BY RACHEL WINDLER
Exclusive. Elite. Hand picked. No, this isn't a red carpet event, This is Wagner's newest program that is determined to send "conduits" (students) to college prepared to win every scholarship, every award, every opportunity that comes their way. Leadership: Access Granted is a fifteen-student only program created by Wagner staff.
The student "conduits" choose a teacher, or "conduit keeper," upon induction. Conduit keepers are mentors of the conduits' own choice. A teacher, a parent, a sibling, whoever the conduit feels will best encourage and help them make it through the program to the end and really take in all Access Granted has to offer. Conduit Keepers will be at their conduits' side through out the program to help along the learning process, so their involvement and level of work is no doubt going to rival those actually in the program. Every faculty member that spends time with these conduits offers their own time and resources to assist conduits.
"If you're going to be in this program, you have to be in this program," assistant principal Andrea Johnson said. Johnson, sole creator of the club, very eloquently generalized the level of participation required of Access Granted. The catch-all question that drives the program is "How do we help students get to college?"
The key word here is "help". Students involved in Access Granted will be helped, of course, but first and foremost they must be self driven and motivated. Students can't be forced to be a leader here, they have to find leadership paths themselves with "conduit keepers" at their side ready to point the way.
Johnson's inspiration for Access Granted came from some of her own high school experiences: specifically, a teacher of her own, Robin Gosdin, who made college and higher education an obtainable goal. Johnson explained how Gosdin walked her through applying for colleges and everything necessary to that end, step by step. Gosdin simplified the long and arduous process and encouraged Johnson to reach as high as she could, and not stop there. According to Johnson, all that encouragement and help really paid off in the end, leading to her coming out as a poised and intelligent adult with three degrees and a desire to recreate here at Wagner the opportunities made available to her by her old teacher.
So what did Johnson's idea amount to in practice? Students faced a rigorous application process, complete with an interview at a table full of every staff member involved in the program. "On the application they ask you a lot of questions, there are some personal questions, like what do you want to be when you grow up, what is my motivation. And we have to look for a mentor," senior Victoria Munoz said, "I have to do an interview, we have to look professional, and after the interview they'll pick fifteen students."
Being one of a few is nothing new to Munoz as she already has plenty of responsibility on her shoulders, being a drum major in band. "We're the first in the band hall and the last to leave. It's a lot of pressure," Munoz said.
But Johnson herself seems to think Munoz can balance both Access Granted and her responsibilities -- in fact, she invited Munoz to apply personally, "Mrs. Johnson pulled me aside; she wanted me to apply to see if I would get in," Munoz said.
Becoming a member of Access Granted is no small feat to begin with. First, a potential applicant attends an interest meeting where the applications are handed out and the basic goals of the program are explained. Once an application is submitted, an interview takes place where students have to prove what they will bring to the program if accepted. Once through the selection process, the induction ceremony is held where members are presented with a binder to keep track of everything they do in the program.
Access Granted has made it a point to teach its members about opportunities and privilege, particularly the fact that being in this program is a privilege that many students won't have. But Johnson has plans to change that. Once a few test runs have been taken, she wants to take the program beyond the initial 15 students.
"The foundation is still being laid and we're still working out all the kinks, trying to get more sponsors and volunteers with the program," Johnson said. "But once we do there will definitely be more students invited to Access Granted. It's really awesome to see how this is all coming together."
Exclusive. Elite. Hand picked. No, this isn't a red carpet event, This is Wagner's newest program that is determined to send "conduits" (students) to college prepared to win every scholarship, every award, every opportunity that comes their way. Leadership: Access Granted is a fifteen-student only program created by Wagner staff.
The student "conduits" choose a teacher, or "conduit keeper," upon induction. Conduit keepers are mentors of the conduits' own choice. A teacher, a parent, a sibling, whoever the conduit feels will best encourage and help them make it through the program to the end and really take in all Access Granted has to offer. Conduit Keepers will be at their conduits' side through out the program to help along the learning process, so their involvement and level of work is no doubt going to rival those actually in the program. Every faculty member that spends time with these conduits offers their own time and resources to assist conduits.
"If you're going to be in this program, you have to be in this program," assistant principal Andrea Johnson said. Johnson, sole creator of the club, very eloquently generalized the level of participation required of Access Granted. The catch-all question that drives the program is "How do we help students get to college?"
The key word here is "help". Students involved in Access Granted will be helped, of course, but first and foremost they must be self driven and motivated. Students can't be forced to be a leader here, they have to find leadership paths themselves with "conduit keepers" at their side ready to point the way.
Johnson's inspiration for Access Granted came from some of her own high school experiences: specifically, a teacher of her own, Robin Gosdin, who made college and higher education an obtainable goal. Johnson explained how Gosdin walked her through applying for colleges and everything necessary to that end, step by step. Gosdin simplified the long and arduous process and encouraged Johnson to reach as high as she could, and not stop there. According to Johnson, all that encouragement and help really paid off in the end, leading to her coming out as a poised and intelligent adult with three degrees and a desire to recreate here at Wagner the opportunities made available to her by her old teacher.
So what did Johnson's idea amount to in practice? Students faced a rigorous application process, complete with an interview at a table full of every staff member involved in the program. "On the application they ask you a lot of questions, there are some personal questions, like what do you want to be when you grow up, what is my motivation. And we have to look for a mentor," senior Victoria Munoz said, "I have to do an interview, we have to look professional, and after the interview they'll pick fifteen students."
Being one of a few is nothing new to Munoz as she already has plenty of responsibility on her shoulders, being a drum major in band. "We're the first in the band hall and the last to leave. It's a lot of pressure," Munoz said.
But Johnson herself seems to think Munoz can balance both Access Granted and her responsibilities -- in fact, she invited Munoz to apply personally, "Mrs. Johnson pulled me aside; she wanted me to apply to see if I would get in," Munoz said.
Becoming a member of Access Granted is no small feat to begin with. First, a potential applicant attends an interest meeting where the applications are handed out and the basic goals of the program are explained. Once an application is submitted, an interview takes place where students have to prove what they will bring to the program if accepted. Once through the selection process, the induction ceremony is held where members are presented with a binder to keep track of everything they do in the program.
Access Granted has made it a point to teach its members about opportunities and privilege, particularly the fact that being in this program is a privilege that many students won't have. But Johnson has plans to change that. Once a few test runs have been taken, she wants to take the program beyond the initial 15 students.
"The foundation is still being laid and we're still working out all the kinks, trying to get more sponsors and volunteers with the program," Johnson said. "But once we do there will definitely be more students invited to Access Granted. It's really awesome to see how this is all coming together."