DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711130075

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BREHON HARRISON, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

COLLEGE SEARCH: EYES ARE OPEN TO THE FUTURE

RECENTLY, I attended the annual college fair at my school, Churchland High. It gave me the opportunity to talk with and learn from colleges and universities all over the country. It was really exciting learning about the schools I may apply to in a couple of years.

Perhaps the best part of the fair was that it helped me narrow my list of colleges and universities - and I'm only in my sophomore year. It also left me awestruck.

For example, Princeton University was at the fair. You know I went to their booth to find out more about the school. What prospective high school student doesn't picture himself or herself at such a prestigious institution?

It could happen.

One thing the college fair taught me is that opportunities are everywhere. It's up to you, though, to take advantage of those opportunities.

Take the fair, for example.

I almost didn't go. I made up all kinds of excuses for not going.

For one, I had to wake up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday.

In retrospect, it was worth the early wake-up call.

I learned a few details about Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University. I picked up a few brochures along the way, and I felt good about what I had accomplished.

Did you know that Syracuse University has its own school of communications? That's a field I'm interested in, but I hadn't even considered Syracuse before I stopped by the school's booth.

The college fair reinforced for me a lesson we should all learn.

That is, you have to make it your business to seek out opportunities. They don't just come to you. Whether it's for a job, for a college or for advice on how to better yourself, you have to look.

Like most teens, sometimes I get lazy when it comes to planning for the future. I may have two places to go on one day, with one place being important to my goals and the other just giving me the opportunity to hang out. I may choose to hang out, but that doesn't mean I don't care about my future.

I know I sound like some perfect, stuck-up brat, but I am just like you. I have goals, ambitions, but I don't spend every weekend chillin', because if I want to go anywhere in life, I must look for opportunity. I advise you to do the same. It's never too late. Good luck!

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