Have you met with your high school students counselor?

    Many parents have told me in the last two days, their student has not met with a school guidance counselor to plan future classes to assist in the pursuit of college placement.  If this is true for your student, call the school and set up an appointment ASAP, especially if your child is a sophomore, junior or senior with questions.  It is never to late to get information regarding your child's future.  We are a country of second chances when it comes to education, so if your child was slow to mature and take school seriously but wants to pursue higher education there is much hope for them.
     If your student knows what they want to achieve as a career goal you are very fortunate.  Assist them in researching which schools will offer the course of study they are interested in, and what are the requirements for qualification to apply for admission to the school.  There are an endless amount of very good schools, but you and your child need to decide which one is "The One", (the right fit) for them.  There is nothing wrong with your child if they are not quite ready to think about leaving home to attend school elsewhere after graduation from high school.  Not everyone is meant to go to college right away, and not every college/university is ready for your child.  
     If your child does not know what they want to do or study after high school you have your work cut out for you.  There are so many categories of interest our students are not exposed to during their short 18 years of exposure to the world.  Partly because the area we live in is somewhat isolated from many career choices, and students rarely see what work is actually done by most professionals.  Spend time with your child learning their interests and find areas of study related to their interests.  Let them try something new and creative, or out of the ordinary to narrow down likes and dislikes.  Look at your high school schedule of classes. If your child is mechanically inclined maybe physics or auto tech. will interest them.  El Diamante has an excellent Agriculture Program.  This covers everything from Leadership, Public Speaking, Farm Maintenance, Agricultural Biology, Horticulture, Floral Arrangement and more.  There are many areas of study. Go in the direction of the students interest.   Good luck!