HC is moving into the second semester, and for some, graduation feels right around the corner. The date has yet to be announced by Fayette County, and if tradition holds, it won’t be disclosed until the spring. However, with all post-COVID graduations having been held in late May, it’s safe to assume precedent will hold.
A trademark of the graduation ceremony are the caps and gowns worn. A simple google search for “Henry Clay Graduation Robes,” will yield a $35 package from Jostens. Alternatively, you can pick up a paper order form in the office or call 1-800-JOSTENS. Make sure to order by January 31st, or a late fee will be added to the cost of the cap and gown.
If that is too much, there are many adults at HC willing to help: Ciera Bowman, the Youth Service Center Coordinator; your counselor, assigned based on the first letter of your last name; or any adult you trust. Clothing items will be shipped to your house, and caps and gowns will be sent to the school.
Following graduation, some students may take a gap year, and others will start a business or seek out a job. Many students, though, will proceed to a trade school or college. Both are undeniably expensive, and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, would be worthwhile for plenty of students. Guides exist online, but “A Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out the FAFSA” by MyFutureNC outlines a simple, 8-step program.
Another option for financial assistance are scholarships. Schools oftentimes give out scholarships based on factors like academic performance, extracurricular activities, and often essays. Many other sources that can be found across the web give out scholarships based on essays, questionnaires, or other, often entertaining, submissions.
If essay writing isn’t for you, thousands of scholarships are given out yearly with no essays required. Some may be given out for seemingly unbelievable criteria. For example, students expressing interest in antique dolls may qualify for the UFDC Nancy Carlson Scholarship, and there is a truly surprising amount of scholarships offered simply for being tall. April Cain, the HC College and Career Coach, runs a website that keeps up to date on scholarship opportunites
Your future shouldn’t be walked into blindly, so do your research, and consider speaking to Ms Cain or to your counselor. The future is only getting closer, so act while you’re still in the present.
