Before they embark on the journey of writing college essays, some questions juniors ask themselves include: What drives you? What do you value? What are your passions?
At PHS, students can ponder their answers at the College and Career Center with the center’s director, Stefanie Manalo-LeClair. She hosted an essay writing workshop on May 18 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to give rising seniors the chance to learn more about the Common Application Essay and Supplemental Essay. Two regional admissions counselors of California led the workshop.
“This is the first time we did it, and we wanted to offer it before school was out so that students didn’t leave the school year without any support from us,” Manalo-LeClair said.
Last year, Manalo-LeClair organized a Personal Insight Questions workshop the week before school started, and about 80 students attended. Manalo-LeClair said she was happy about the number of students that attended this year’s workshop, for the students’ sake as well as the admissions counselors who volunteered to lead the workshop.
“I thought it would be helpful to have a deeper view from people who look at this sort of thing for their job,” junior Raiden Holt said.
Holt, who also has a private college counselor, said he still chose to attend the workshop because he wanted to talk to his peers about the process of essay writing.
“I plan to start at the beginning of the summer so I can be more relaxed with the beginning of the year,” Holt said.
Other students work with a private college counselor for help with college essays and applications, SAT prep, and for junior Clara Shum, picking out extracurriculars and summer activities that push and drive her.
“It’s really helpful to have someone out of school drive you in terms of extracurriculars, your drive, and passion,” Shum said. “I want to get [college essays] done during the summer so I don’t have stress in the school year. My college counselor helps me with figuring out what to write that connects with [my] values.”
Of the 56 seniors who completed Manalo-LeClair’s visit form last year, 24 were working with a private college counselor.
“I don’t personally feel like the push for prepping for college has been very strong in Piedmont,” Shum said. “I think we get a lot of emails and college visits, but I’ve never gone to any because I will just visit the schools I’m interested in on my own, which is a privilege I am very lucky to have.”
English teacher Hayley Adams said in her junior English class, she has a college unit during March Madness where students do a lot of reflective writing. In the end, each student finishes with what could be a draft for a Common App essay.
“This is my way to give support to all kids,” Adams said. “I have found that it has made kids just feel more secure, and then they’re also able to tell their peers the information I’ve given them.”
Manalo-LeClair said that the workshop went well and that students were prepared with great questions and drafts of their Why Us essay.
“I think what stood out for me was that summer is the best time to get most of the essays done, or as close to a final draft as possible,” Manalo-LeClair said. “The essay gives context and student voice a chance to shine.”
