NHS Alums Share College Advice With Students

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown High School Alums spoke on a panel during the June 2 installment of the guidance office’s weekly Wednesday workshop for students.

“You have to start looking at yourself,” said NHS alum Hiram Orama, speaking to the room of mostly juniors, who will be looking at and applying to colleges next year, “what you like, and what you don’t like.”

Senior year, he said, the students will be searching for the right school. It is important to consider things like whether they like to be alone, or if they prefer crowds, according to Hiram, who attends Nyack University, Nyack, N.Y.

“If you don’t,” he continued, “I know people who go into school thinking, ‘This is the school.’ Then it’s not, and they hate it.”

Hiram was one of nine alums speaking during the Wednesday event. Also at the event were Delaware State University student Vanessa Richards, Boston University student Alyssa Carey, Bucknell University student Michelle Haitz, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, student Genna Rossi, Syracuse University student Megan Sajovic, Eastern Connecticut State University student Marley Koschel, University of Connecticut student Biota Hung, and Princeton University student Gretchen Hoffman.

Each alum in attendance graduated in 2009.

Head of the guidance department Cathy Ostar said each workshop held during the year highlighted a different topic for students.

“I think the kids who go really appreciate it,” she said. The workshops were held during the lunch waves at the school.

Biota said she does see students from Newtown at the University of Connecticut, but the state university has enough people attending that it does not feel like a recreation of NHS.

“Your high school friends don’t have to become your college friends,” she said. “In fact, I would recommend that you not do that.”

While attending Eastern Connecticut State University, Marley said she formed a little family at the school.

“You just have to follow what you want,” she said. “Don’t follow your friends. Don’t follow your boyfriend. Figure out what you want.”

Other words of advice from the students included visiting the school before applying and start applying early.

Alyssa said she did not apply early to Boston University.

“Once you apply you forget about it for a while,” she said, “but then all your friends who applied early start to hear back.”

Overall, Genna said students should know themselves.

“Really you have to know what you want so the guidance counselors can help you,” said the University of Tennessee student.