EDUCATIONALLY SPEAKING -- Gay Geiser-Sandoval

I have always thought of my column being read at the breakfast table.

But, recently, I heard Erin Gruwell tell students at two local high

schools that the best reading gets done somewhere else. Gruwell is a

Newport Beach girl who is making a name for herself worldwide.

A few years back, she started her teaching career by teaching those

who have been labeled as “losers” at a high school in Long Beach. She

remained with her same group of students for their four years of high

school and, along the way, they wrote a book called “Freedom Writers

Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and

the World Around Them.” All of her students are now in college and are

financing their college education with sales of the book. Put it on your

summer reading list.

Gruwell said in order for a topic sentence to be considered really

compelling, it should throw you off the toilet. The heart of your writing

should be like a wonderful sandwich, with all of the accouterments,

instead of just bread and baloney. So, I hope that my columns are not

just a bunch of baloney and, once in a while, you fall off the toilet.

Some Newport-Mesa Unified School District students are about to arrive

at the hallowed halls of high school. I asked two self-proclaimed experts

to fill me in on what you should know to succeed and conquer.

First of all, for those of you about to enter high school, remember to

take the hardest classes that you can. Plan your high school career

according to the University of California requirements. Those classes

will qualify you to apply for almost any college in the United States. If

you don’t take those classes, you limit yourself. Don’t waste a period

each day being a teacher’s aid. If you have an extra class after fitting

in English, math, history, science, foreign language and physical

education, try something to fulfill the fine arts requirement. Your

talent in drama or choir may be just waiting to come out.

Don’t limit what you do or whom you hang out with in an effort to “be

cool.” Those who must always gauge what they do on the coolness factor

don’t get to have fun. Instead, be silly and try every school activity

you can, even if it is jumping into a vat of gelatin.

In ninth grade, try a different sport for each season. Just because

you’ve played soccer since you were 5 doesn’t mean you can’t try golf,

water polo or cross-country. Think of it as a way to get free lessons in

a sport you might want to play for your adult life. Sports teams are also

a great way to meet people from all high school grade levels who have at

least one thing in common with you.

Don’t limit what classes you take or what clubs you belong to for fear

of being labeled a nerd. By the middle of your senior year, it will

become evident that the nerds are going to be the winners in life. Try

your best to get a nerd label. It means you are getting good grades and

participating in class. If you have a choice between studying and hanging

out with your friends, study. Your friends are doing something boring

anyway.

Try to meet new people each year. It is easier if you are in a choir,

sport, drama, band, Associated Student Body, academic team or club

because you will meet people from all grade levels, even if you don’t

have academic classes with them. Once you get to know them better, meet

their circle of friends.

Don’t plan to get into college on your SAT scores alone. So stoke up

your future college applications with good grades, activities and

volunteerism.

* GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL is a Costa Mesa resident. Her column runs

Tuesdays. She may be reached by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .