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Matthew Thomas
Springfield High School of Science and Technology &
American International College

Education: Tufts University 2009 Sociology

Why did you join the College Advising Corps? I joined the College Advising Corps because I believe that every single student has the drive and desire to go to college has the right to go to college. Many kids are told from a young age that they do not have a future, or that they cannot get into college, and that is just not fair. While many of the students who go to the High School lf Science and Technology have not had the best life growing up, there life experiences can become an integral part of a college campus.

How are individual students affected by this program? Many of the students that I work with have absolutely no idea how to go about applying to college. They will come into the office and tell me they want to go to college. I ask them about tests, applications, financial aid, and they have absolutely no idea what I am talking about. I am a person there to guide them along in their application process, and I am there to give them support in whatever way is necessary for that individual student.

Why is it important to create a relationship between high schools and college campuses/secondary schools and higher education? High schools and colleges working hand in hand is essential, because they have the same interests at heart, the education of the next generation of America’s leaders. When colleges have a presence at a high school, there is a visible sign to the students that there is something after graduation. If they see people from their hometown in school, giving back to the community and helping out in their school, it reminds them that they are no different, and they can go to college if they want to do so.