As every high schooler knows, college can be extremely intimidating. After all, it is the beginning of your adult life, and determines your future career. A burning desire is to know more about the transition from high school to college.

In the evening of January 3, 2019, five college students from universities across the country were honored panelists at the APAPA Columbus event “From High School to College”. Over 120 people packed the event hall with some of them standing from the beginning to the end. Over $100 in donation was received to support future APAPA youth events.

The panelists included Alan Ding, a computer science major at Princeton; William Wu, an economics major at UCLA; Jacqueline Tu, an aerospace engineering major at Georgia Tech; Brandon Liu, a computer science major at Yale; and Swathi Vudatala, a law major at Ohio State. Through the panel discussion, they had the opportunity to show high school students the ups and downs of everything related to college. Each of these students were asked some common questions submitted by the audience prior to the meeting, sharing their experience in building resumes, writing college application essays, student life, clubs, and more. The event was moderated by Norah Xu, a Junior at Dublin Jerome High School and treasurer of APAPA Columbus Youth Chapter.

One of the main points addressed by the panelists was to follow a true passion. They encouraged the high schoolers to pursue a career choice that they would truly enjoy, not what their parents or teachers think are best for them. This will not only allow students to show their passion to colleges, but will also keep them motivated throughout their education, pushing them to be the best they can be in the real world.

Another key piece of advice given was to reach out to the people in a given major or college and ask about their experiences. The current college students give crucial information and help prevent regrettable decisions that cost money and time.

Each panelist also talked about the social aspect of their college experience, explaining that in high school, they felt confined in their extracurriculars, simply because they focused too much on limiting those to benefit their college applications. However, they discovered that many other clubs interest them, and that they aren’t restricted from partaking in any of them. This transition from high school to college provided them with a positive aspect of college, showing the audience it is not only about the academics, but also about having fun and enjoying their time on campus. Although college may require more time dedicated to school work, there is more freedom regarding time spent for enjoyment.

All in all, the discussion was memorable for everyone attending. The insight given from successful college students in person exceeds what we could learn online. The panelists provided advice to all of the future college students; parents now feel better informed, ready to help their children face their future with confidence.

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