1. I am not what happened to me. I am what I chose to become. Carl Jung Dunbar Vocational Career Academy Dr. C. Covington, Principal

2. You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don't think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully. Anthony Robbins New Beginnings, Last Chances ( for now)

3.  Do I have the 11 credits needed to be promoted to the Junior year?  What credit and non-credit graduation requirements do I need to make up now in order to graduate on time?  What short term academic goals have I set for myself this year?

4.  What is my rank and grade point average?  What was my PLAN score at the end, or even at the beginning of last school year?  What long term goals do I have about after High School?

5.  Life is like a game of chess…there are many moves possible, but each move determines your next move…where you wind up is the sum total of all your past moves…but first you have to make some kind of move. Mort Walker

6.  Is a college education worth the cost?  Education pays in higher earnings and lower unemployment rates. Note: Data are 2009 annual averages for persons age 25 and over. Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (May 27, 2010).

7.  Work through the Junior ILP The Junior Individual Learning Plan will be your roadmap through the Junior year. It’s in What’s Next Illinois.  Transcript review and Credit Recovery Plan You and your counselor will develop a plan EARLY.  Build up your grade point average and rank. Remember your JUNE GPA is one important factor that schools will use to decide acceptance. It is the GPA you will send to colleges and they will use in making admission decisions.

8.  Prepare to score in the 20’s on your ACT in April. It is the ACT score schools will use for making admission decisions! Using your practice ACT as a starting point, take advantage of your school assignments and PSAE prep that will be offered during the year.  Begin your college search now. Build a comparison list of schools now. Start with reflecting on your preferences, abilities, personal qualities and possible areas of study. Take advantage of school web sites, college fairs and tours. Use www.collegeNavigator.ed.govwww.collegeNavigator.ed.gov

9. Know Your Options Illinois has more than 200 colleges and universities. Consider the following: Type Size Location Majors, Type of Degree Student Life Financial Aid Options

10.  Get prepared financially for college. Check out college access programs like Chicago Scholars and Posse. Find out the cost of attending specific schools Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov and get a estimate of federal financial support for college.www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov Begin the scholarship search process now. Locate sources for scholarships and use websites like www.fastweb.org and www.scholarships.com and the scholarship guide on www.chooseyourfuture.org www.fastweb.orgwww.scholarships.comwww.chooseyourfuture.org

11. Financial Aid Sources Financial aid comes from a variety of sources. Federal Government (ED) State Government (ISAC) College Private Sources

12. Types of Financial Aid There are many types of financial aid. gift aid self-help aid Grants Scholarships Work-Study Loans

13.  Practice ACT (as part of PSAE) Late September/Beginning of October  NACAC College Fair at McCormick Place Oct. 10 (Register at www.gotomyncf.com)  2 nd Qtr. Evening School Registration begins Oct. ?????  DVCA College Fair in early November

14.  PSAT/NMQST Testing on Oct. 12, with prior registration required  PSAE 2012 April 24 and 25, 2012  Final Semester Grades 1/27/12 & 6/14/12

15.  You have the power in the present moment to change limiting beliefs and consciously plant the seeds for the future of your choosing. As you change your mind, you change your experience. Serge Kahili King

16. All men and women are born, live, suffer and die; what distinguishes us one from another is our dreams, whether they be dreams about worldly or unworldly things, and what we do to make them come about…We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing...But within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live. Joseph Epstein WE CHOOSE HOW WE WANT TO LIVE