Black Hawk College was honored to receive a letter from a couple of 6th grade students from Hardin Middle School in Hardin, Montana. They are working on a school-wide project to learn more about higher education. Black Hawk was selected as one of many colleges throughout the country for this project.
John Meineke, Director of BHC Marketing and Public Relations, responded to the boys, Lucas and Arthur, with a letter explaining what students might expect if coming here to Black Hawk. He also sent some Black Hawk College memorabilia from the campus bookstore.
The Chieftain staff heard about this project and wanted to offer advice to these students as they look forward to higher education.
Gayle Grudstrom says, “If there’s anything I would tell my sixth grade self about high school, it would be that it is nothing like you see on TV. Although you expect many things to be different, the only thing that really changes is your age. You’ll still be expected to work hard. You don’t have to go out to drink and party like the teenagers do on TV. That is the time of your life where you are learning the most about yourself, but don’t let that fact overwhelm you. Take advantage of every positive opportunity and don’t be afraid to express yourself.”
Professor Marifaith Mueller, adviser of the Chieftain, recommends, “Take chances. Follow your interests and more importantly, your passion. That passion will lead you to classes that you will love and ultimately, a job that just doesn’t seem like work.”
“My advice,” Katherine Pustejovsky offers, “is to use high school as a time to try things out. Think about all the multiple careers you would like to have or just things that you think would be fun to do, and try them out. It is never too early to plan, and your parents will love you for not experimenting in college when it will cost them more.”
Ryan Prochaska wrote, “I am writing you from fifteen years in the future. I want you to forget everything you currently believe about the importance of higher education. In fact, after your done reading this letter, please don’t go outside and cause trouble with the neighborhood kids. Pick up a book!
“Trust me, I am speaking from experience. I am currently a twenty seven year old freshman in college, who also works a full time job in a rather nasty factory. Believe me, you do not want to go down the same path I did.
“Up to this point, you’ve done exceptionally well in school. Unfortunately you will soon be fixated on socializing with friends instead of studying and preparing for college.
“All the friends you have now will not be around in fifteen years, so stop worrying about impressing your friends.
“I should be a journalist right now instead of being a freshman in college.
“If you don’t take your school seriously from here on out, you will ultimately barely pass high school with a “C” average, and then decide to skip college for a factory job. One day you wake up at the age of twenty six and realize you made the biggest mistake of your life by not going to college right out of high school.
“Younger Ryan, I beg you to take school more seriously, otherwise you’ll end up being my age and wishing every day you went to college earlier.”
Finally, Chloanne Simmering simply advised, “The answer was “C”…. You will understand what that means later.”
Good Luck Class of ‘21!
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