Alumni Days: Central, Norrix Grads Return to Provide Tips for Success

For more than a decade now, Kalamazoo Central and Loy Norrix high school graduates have returned to their alma maters the last Friday before winter break. It’s a chance to see old friends and to visit with their favorite teachers. But the real focus is on helping current students learn about the alumni’s experiences post high school. They provide a unique perspective that administrators say can be particularly impactful because of their youth and familiarity with some of the younger students.

Their words of wisdom about studying, tackling college, and choosing careers can sometimes have a bigger impact than the same advice from a school counselor or a parent. “Students who graduated within five years are invited back to speak to the students about their life experiences since graduating high school,” said Judi Mentzer, the dean of students at Kalamazoo Central High School. “We hope that students will see the importance of taking high school seriously, so that they can do great things when they graduate.” The alumni visit classrooms and have informal conversations with the students, who are free to ask questions. “The teachers do give the students some suggestions of questions that they can ask if they are not sure what to ask the alumni,” Mentzer said. “The alumni can discuss the benefits of going to college or the military and things that they wish they had known before going to college.” Loy Norrix High School Principal Chris Aguinaga said, “This is a great opportunity for students to see the journey other Knights have taken since high school. The goal is to expose as many students as possible to as many different pathways after high school as possible to help inspire plans for the future.” Dozens of alumni participate at each high school, and the gathering includes students who are currently in college, some who are serving in the military, and some grads who have already entered the world of work. The day usually ends with the alumni sharing lunch with their former teachers and friends. Here are some of the comments offered by three of the alumni who spoke at Kalamazoo Central in December.

JAVON WILSON — MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY The transition from high school to college is easy once you move and get settled in, but when it comes to classes, “It’s a little different because each professor is a little different, each class is a little different. It’s not like high school where you walk around and your teachers instantly care about you for no reason. “You have to go out of your way to make connections with those professors, you have to go out of your way to make sure your grades are OK. You actually have to be on top of it, because nobody is going to remind you. Not even the campus system that they use. Like, you have to have your own calendar and make sure you keep track of things like your tests, your exams, make sure you’re on time.” Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming, he said. His best advice is to get to know your professors by taking advantage of office hours. “Even if it’s just for a few seconds. When you first start a class, go to all of the office hours at least once. Meet the teacher, talk to the professor. Just say, ‘Hello.’ Sometimes that’s all it takes for them to see that you at least care about your grade, that you care about your class.” Networking is important not just with professors, but with other students as well. Be open to meeting new people, Wilson advised. “If you’re a welcoming person, there might be random people who might walk up to you and say ‘Hello.’ I went to dinner with some friends in the dining hall and a group of people just connected with us somehow. They asked us a question and we started eating and talking. I still see those people on campus and give them hugs and say, ‘Hi.’” College is about connections, he said. Make sure you join clubs and explore. That’s a part of the college experience.

RAHYA KELLY — THE UNIVERSITY OF OLIVET Olivet is a small liberal arts school between Kalamazoo and Lansing, and Kelly said it’s been a perfect fit for her. “I wouldn’t change a thing. I know it’s not meant for everyone. Some of the people I go to school with come from big cities like Detroit. They might complain about being bored and that there’s nothing to do. “I like how small it is. It’s a community. My school is small enough that there’s no person you shouldn’t know. You can find connections anywhere on campus.” She encouraged the students that she spoke with to start building a strong foundation during high school. Make connections now. That’s the same advice she’d give anyone starting college. “I wish I would have taken high school more seriously,” she said. The senior business major said Olivet does a good job of exposing students to careers through various job fairs, which are a good resource for seeking internships and for hunting. “Your professors play a big part in that too, especially if they have great relationships with you,” she said. One of the challenges with going to college in a small town is finding a way to address the hair care needs of multicultural students. Kelly responded to the problem by working with her aunt to launch a hair care vending machine. “My school is in the middle of nowhere. For multicultural students, you can’t go to your nearest Walmart or something and aways get your hair care product from there, because they don’t always cater to our needs,” she said. “My aunt is CEO of the company and I just run it. I am the manager of it.” The vending machine offers shampoos, conditioners, bonnets, picks, combs and more in a store on wheels Her final word of advice for students: Don’t be like her. “I’m the biggest procrastinator there is,” she said. “I still procrastinate to this day. Honestly, if I’m not hosting study tables and working on my homework, it won’t get done until the last minute. Please don’t do that. It’s really not worth it. I say it all the time, but I wish I got this out of the way. I don’t know what it is.” CAMERON MOORE — AQUINAS COLLEGE The business administration and sports management major has been taking advantage of every opportunity to launch his career while still a student at Aquinas College. He has had internships at Gryphon Place and Stryker Corp., and next semester he’ll intern at MSA Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids. He said that work experience is expected at Aquinas, which requires students to complete two internships before graduation. “I’m excited for the MSA Fieldhouse internship,” he said. “I got it because it was one of the places we toured during my facilities and event management classes. They have volleyball, basketball and soccer facilities. The Rise, the Grand Rapids professional volleyball team that plays at Van Andel, practices there.” He said it didn’t take long to acclimate to college because he did a good job of preparing himself for college life while he was still in high school. He took a class-load heavy in Advanced Placement classes and he learned time management from his busy extracurricular activity schedule playing travel basketball and soccer and volunteering with Jeter’s Leaders. “My best advice for high school students is to take those hard classes,” he said. “They prepare you for college and for learning by yourself. The hardest thing to adjust to in college is that everything is on you. You have to hold yourself accountable for everything. “There’s no one breathing down your back, saying you have to go to class, that you have to do your work. If you don’t do those things, you’ll end up losing The Promise and things like that.