What is your Calling?

     As I mentioned in my previous blog, I wanted to try something new this year as I write this blog. I wanted to challenge you and have you think about where you are going in life, what career are you choosing for yourself and are you following your calling. My inspiration for this comes from a great friend and mentor I have known for over 18 years now. Mr. Dave Myers was my mentor when I started here at Vantage. He was the school counselor that I would be taking over for the following year. I was privileged to work with him for a full year while I was doing my internship. Dave was a true inspiration to me and I continue to use so many of the tools that he left me with. Before Dave left, he had me read a book called "Callings" by Gregg Levoy. I highly recommend that you pick this book up and take the time to read it. The book ask the question, How do we know if we are following our true callings? How do we sharpen our senses to cut through the distractions of everyday life and hear the calls that are beckoning us?

Callings is the first book to examine the many kinds of calls we receive, and the great variety of channels through which they come to us. A calling may be to do something (change careers, go back to school, start or leave a relationship, etc), or it calls us to be something (more creative, less judgmental, more loving). Every student here at Vantage has answered the call to venture out in their educational career and try something new, something different. You have decided that you want to pursue a career field that interest you and that you want to get ahead of your former classmates by earning skills in that field. I want you to know that the staff here at Vantage will do everything possible to help you reach your goals. We will work with you to earn those skills that you need to land a great career or further your education in college. However, we need you to work alongside of us. We need you to come to school everyday, work hard, get along with others and obey the rules. Be a leader. Get involved. Avoid the drama. Together we can make these final years of your high school career be the best ever. 

Throughout this year, I will take quotes from the "Callings" book and post them in this blog. Quotes that I think will help you grow and give you something to ponder. The quote I want to highlight today is something I want you to  think about as you meet new students in your classes or if you are looking for a place to sit at lunch. The quote is: "When you wonder about a group of people who are different from you, find someone from that group and ask them to teach you." Find out about their background, their nationality, their home school, etc. I think you will find you have more in common than you think and you may just make a friend for life. 

Thanks for reading and have a great school year. We will hopefully grow a little more in the next blog. 

  

Welcome Students

 I would like to start out by saying welcome to all of our students for the 2023/2024 school year. I am excited to welcome back our seniors and also to meet all the new juniors this year. I have to admit that it has been awhile since I wrote my last blog. I just feel that I got so busy with everything going on that I just never took the time to write very much last year. I have promised myself that I will try to write a new blog at least once a month. 

I am hoping that our seniors have a great year and accomplish everything they set out to do. This year will go by very fast for you, so please take your time and truly enjoy each and every day. Get involved in as much as you can. Enter the competitions for your program and see if you can make it to state. Go out of your way to meet a few new people this year, you may end up with a friend for life. Work hard in all your classes, even the ones you may not need for graduation, it will pay off in the long run. Be a leader around the school campus by being respectful and caring. Make this year a year that you can be proud of and one that you will look back on and be glad that you didn't waste it. Most of all though, I hope you truly enjoy each and every day that you are here at Vantage. 

For the juniors: I know that you will be a little anxious at first, but just relax. You will discover that Vantage is a wonderful place to learn and to be a part of. Reach out to your teachers, the staff or the counselors whenever you have a question or concern. I promise you that within a few weeks you will call Vantage your home. Follow the rules, respect others and work hard. That is a pretty simple request and yet it will give you so much fun and enjoyment as you develop your career skills and prepare yourself for the workforce or college. I realize that you are making quite a change in your education by choosing Vantage, but I know it is a decision that you will not regret. I have been here at Vantage for a long time and I see the positive changes in the students every year. You will come in as young juniors and not real sure about your future or career path, and then in two short years you will walk out these doors with a great paying job and a career or be heading off to college. Thank you for choosing Vantage

In closing, I am looking forward to this school year and I hope you are too. I hope you will continue reading my blog throughout the year as I have an interesting idea that I think you will enjoy. As always, please stop by the counseling office anytime you wish to talk to someone or just want to vent. We have a great student services staff that is always willing to help you. Until next time, take care and have fun.