Picture by Tyler Meade Photography in South Kamloops Secondary
Imagine being 17 again, with graduation upon you and feeling concerned about where the next chapter of life will take you. What if university students once in your place, came back to offer guidance? For high school students in Kamloops, this can be a reality. TRU students will come to your school to share experiences and give insight into what university is like. Alyssa Cuff is organizing the club. Where students from university go to high school to talk about what university life is all about. The club’s goal is to “Encourage Kamloops High School students to enroll at TRU by Providing guidance and mentorship from current university students”. Stated by club director Alyssa Cuff.
When interviewing Lily Neels in grade 12 at South Kamloops secondary, the question proposed was “What has your school told you about TRU?” Neels replied, “All teachers have said is where to apply for bursaries or scholarships and that’s it, nothing about classes or TRU’s website”. After talking with the club director, she said the club will inform students of the TRU website, give students a run down on how it works, and the different types of diplomas or degrees TRU can offer.
After interviewing another student in grade 12 at South Kamloops secondary Lily’s sister Hayley Neels from South Kamloops secondary, agreed with Lily saying, “I feel unprepared with what university is like and honestly have no idea what to expect”. This highlights a significant gap in students’ understanding of university life. This lack of information can discourage students from considering TRU. To change that, high school will be actively engaged with university students by discussing what university is like and sharing real-life experiences (Alyssa Cuff).
University students will become mentors to these high school students. This wouldn’t only give them the knowledge they need to pursue post-secondary but also guide them through this stressful process. An example of being a mentor will be teaching students how to use TRU website and showcasing different programs offered. This may include different diplomas, minors or bachelor’s degrees (Alyssa cuff). By promoting the university through these personal interactions with university students it not only helps individual high school students but also strengthens the connection between TRU and the local community.
In an interview with Ashley Cavaliere, a first-year student at TRU, she shared, that she’d wished she had known “more about the importance of time management and balance before coming here”. Cavaliere continued “In high school, you can often get by with last-minute studying or completing assignments the night before, but university demands a whole new level of self-discipline”. This revealed more insight into what is and isn’t talked about in High School classrooms before potentially pursuing post-secondary.
The club’s mission is clear: bridge the gap between high school and university by offering insights from students just a few years older. The director emphasized how hearing directly from peers can make the idea of post-secondary education more accessible and relatable. Final remarks from the club director “This initiative is about inspiring the next generation with practical, firsthand experiences. The topics covered will be how to apply, what to expect from university life, time management strategies, and an overview of TRU’s programs, from diplomas to degrees. By sharing personal stories and offering ongoing mentorship, “the club aims to empower students, giving them the confidence to take the next step in their academic journey” (Alyssa Cuff).
Club Director Alyssa Cuff
Instead of saying: When interviewing Lily Neels in grade 12 at South Kamloops secondary, the question proposed was “What has your school told you about TRU?” Neels replied, “All teachers have said is where to apply for bursaries or scholarships and that’s it, nothing about classes or TRU’s website”. After talking with the club director, she said the club will inform students of the TRU website, give students a run down on how it works, and the different types of diplomas or degrees TRU can offer.
Say: Lily Neels, a student in grade 12 at South Kamloops secondary, says that “All teachers have said is where to apply for bursaries or scholarships and that’s it, nothing about classes or TRU’s website.”
The rest can be used somewhere else where you explain what the club will be doing.
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Instead of saying: In an interview with Ashley Cavaliere, a first-year student at TRU, she shared, that she’d wished she had known “more about the importance of time management and balance before coming here”. Cavaliere continued “In high school, you can often get by with last-minute studying or completing assignments the night before, but university demands a whole new level of self-discipline”.
Say: Ashley Cavaliere, a first-year student at TRU, wishes she had known “more about the importance of time management and balance before coming here.” Cavaliere added, “In high school, you can often get by with last-minute studying or completing assignments the night before, but university demands a whole new level of self-discipline.” {{{periods always inside quotation marks.}}}}