This year, my oldest child Nishe’ entered her first year of high school. I think this was scarier for me than it was for her. High school brings a bunch of new thoughts and worries to the forefront. One of those worries is college. The countdown to college has officially begun. We have to begin to answer some questions that we as a family haven’t had to think about until now. One of the most important issues is keeping Nishe’ on track academically. Over the years we have come up with some great things that work for us:
- Requiring her to study at least 30 minutes to an hour per day.
- Exploring her interests like her love of art and writing
- Taking advantage of the extra help that the school offers.
Our hope is that if she keeps her grades up, she can eventually earn a scholarship to college. So we are constantly reminding her to do these things, and for the most part, she does it on her own. She is a great kid when it comes to that. We always remind her and her brother that learning doesn’t end when you leave the school building. Recently, we discovered a homeschool curriculum that she can use at home. She seems to love it. We remind her that her grades are her way to getting into college and on the path to the career she wants, which is a video game creator. So in order to fulfill her dreams, she has to get good grades. We might have to help her more with the assignments and studies. I remember I always needed help with my assignment, and presently these kids have a much-advanced curriculum. So, we are going to try to support her however we can. We want nothing more than for her to achieve her dreams.
Coca-Cola wants teens to have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams as well. Their desire to see kids achieve their dreams is the reason why they have created the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward program. This year’s program will award up to 20 teenagers a $5,000 scholarship and an invitation for them and their mom/legal guardian to attend the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Academy in Atlanta the weekend of July 24-26, 2015. The academy will allow teenagers to create fantastic memories and also to be a part of unique mentorship experiences. They will also learn about such things as personal branding, higher education, and alternative career paths. Steve Harvey, the well-known TV/radio personality, comedian, author, philanthropist, and media mogul will co-host this entire weekend. The goal of this program is to uplift moms and help them address the educational needs of their teens. This means that the program won’t just help teens, it will also provide moms with the necessary tools to help their teens reach academic success, as well as how to financially prepare them for college.
If you want to nominate your teenager or a teenager you know for the chance to be a part of this wonderful weekend, nominations are now open. You have until March 31, 2015 to nominate a deserving teenager. The teenager must be at least 13 years of age, and be in 9th – 12th grade. Winners will be chosen near the end of May. If the teenager you have nominated is chosen, they will win a $5000 scholarship and an invitation to enjoy this Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Academy opportunity. It will be a great experience. Click here to nominate your teen.
For complete rules and eligibility requirements, and to nominate a teen, visit www.coke.com/payitforward . Join the conversation online, using #CokePayItForward.
The Coca-Cola company provided promotional consideration for my participation in this program.
I heard about the scholarship program on the Steve Harvey Morning Program. This sounds like a great opportunity. Thanks for sharing!
I have about a year and half before my son starts high school and I’m nervous! I need to work on making him study every night whether he has homework or not.
how awesome is this!