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Benjamin Tarshis
Framingham High School + Framingham State College

Education: Bachelor of Arts, History, Tufts University, 2007

Why did you join the College Advising Corps? I spent the last year working at The Taft School in Watertown, CT and while I loved the opportunity I had there, I really wanted to make a jump to public education and serve students that did not have the same opportunities that I had. I stumbled upon the program while I was looking for jobs the past summer and immediately got in touch with Andy, and the rest as we say is history.

How are individual students affected by this program? I think that the effect of this program depends on each student. Some students need me to guide them though the entire process because every step, from looking at a school, to filling out an application is brand new to them, while other students may have a quick question that can be answered in a moment or two. In short, it is my responsibility to individually tailor the college process to each student so that I can reach out to as many students as effectively as possible.

Why is it important to create a relationship between high schools and college campuses/secondary schools and higher education? In a world where a college degree is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury it seems only natural that colleges would want to partner with secondary schools so that each can benefit from one another. The more time and effort a college puts in to working with a high school the better off both institutions will be. The high school may get resources that it did not have before, while the college will get students that are better prepared when the matriculate to college.

What are the benefits of creating a relationship between high schools and college campuses/secondary schools and higher education? When students are exposed to a college or representatives from a college early in their high school career, it removes the stigma that college may not be an option. Once that stigma is removed colleges get a larger and more diverse application pool and can create a class that is more representative of society as a whole.

How is your greater school community affected by this program? I believe that as this program continues, Framingham State College can become an integral part of the Framingham community. Perhaps it is something as simple as a family taking a walk around the campus on Sunday afternoon in the Autumn, but because this partnership has built a relationship with students in the high school (and by extension their families) and thereby removed the stigma that a college campus may not be for them, FSC can be more open and attract students of all ages and demographics.

Why should there be so much emphasis on college access and the opportunity for higher education? Everybody should have access to high education regardless of the size of his or her bank account. Education is not a privilege, but a fundamental right that everyone should have access to.