Today’s teenagers emerge from high school into a tertiary education and employment market more competitive than ever before.
The preparation required, and the lengths that students go to secure places in their colleges, or careers, of choice, were unheard just years ago.
During a break from Career Day presentations at Eastside Catholic School last week, The Reporter met with senior Evan Fowler, an example of the drive and extra-ciricular commitment that top young students are demonstrating, in order to compete for places at the most sought colleges in the nation.
Fowler has been accepted to the prestigious John Hopkins University in Baltimore, an institution renowned for its research in public health, public policy, science, education and engineering.
There he will study International Relations, the first step in a career that he hopes will see him working with global aid organizations.
“I come from a fairly wealthy background, and it has always been impressed on me that I have the opportunity to give, and contribute,” the candid Fowler said.
The career idea was perhaps fostered by his mother, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.
But the work to get there has been all Fowler’s, and provides an excellent example of just what is expected of students these days.
In the years leading up to his graduation, Fowler took part in two mission trips to Mexico, helping developing communities, opportunities offered through his school and his parish church.
Last summer he completed an internship in Dussledorf, Germany, working with a company that builds information technology databases for troops, and he is hoping to follow that up with another internship this summer before he hits the books in earnest at John Hopkins in August.
Fowler is also the vice-president of Eastside Catholic’s associated student body, a Retreat Leader, and a regular on the lacrosse and football teams.
Add this extra-cirricular activity to work with both the Emerald City and Sammamish Rotary clubs, and participation in the Toyota Scholarship program, and you have an idea of the kind of resumes universities like John Hopkins are looking for.
It is a tough market, and young students are expected to be more and more savvy to make the grade.
“I tried to market myself as someone who already had lots of experience with helping people,” Fowler said.
With universities facing shrinking budgets and competition for the best places getting tougher all the time, students like Fowler are continually raising the bar of what is expected of our young students.
