Decision Day at QPA

 

For College Decision Day in bustling New York City, high school seniors and their families gathered to celebrate this milestone in their educational journey.

 

College Decision Day At QPA

May 1st, 2023 witnessed an exciting event at Queens Preparatory Academy: Decision Day. On this occasion, seniors in QPA’s class of 2023 had the opportunity to share their college picks with the rest of the school. The students celebrated their hard work, as they proudly exhibited their college gear, which serves as a symbolic representation of the universities or colleges they will attend  in the fall. 

The event served as a united showcase of achievement and excitement, creating an atmosphere where students could fully immerse themselves in celebrating their accomplishments. Decision Day marked a significant milestone in their lives, as they embarked on a new chapter of learning and personal growth.

 

Honoring Seniors with Style: A Celebration of Accomplishments

The morning kicked off with a delightful senior breakfast exclusively organized for the graduating students. Then, the entire QPA community convened in the auditorium to celebrate alongside the seniors.

During the gathering, the college decisions were revealed, and staff members demonstrated their college spirit by donning apparel from their own alma maters. This community gathering reflected the joy and support the QPA family has for the graduating class, while inspiring upcoming seniors, juniors, and present freshmen with the belief that anything is possible if you’re willing to stay the course.

The overall experience was exciting and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. According to senior Khyia Cobb, “the experience was amazing.” She also shared that even though she had hoped to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), it would have been too expensive. She is now happy with her decision “to enroll at the New York City College of Technology” which is much more affordable. Other seniors also expressed that a key determinant in their college decision was the financial benefit they had or were given. Another senior, Marilyn Rosario, gave some advice for upcoming seniors about the challenges ahead. “When you think you can’t handle it,” she  said, “Is exactly when you should tackle it!”

The Process

Fortunately, at QPA, we have our dedicated college counselor, Ms. M who supports juniors and seniors throughout the college-application process. Ms. M. shared that her  greatest challenge in the decision-making process “is guiding students to make final choices about the colleges or universities they would attend in the upcoming fall.”

This year,  in recognition of the hard work and deserving nature of the seniors, Ms. M decided to make the college decision day a special and personalized celebration. She put immense effort into preparing for the event: creating a senior presentation, arranging a banner, organizing photo opportunities, and collaborating with other staff members to make the occasion a special and memorable one.

Where her feelings toward the students having made their decisions are concerned, Ms. M shared that while some students have chosen to take a gap year to explore their interests and find what truly brings them happiness, overall, most of the students have made decisions to embark on journeys they will ultimately enjoy.

 Ms. M’s dedication to her role as a college counselor and her commitment to ensuring a meaningful and celebratory college decision day highlights the importance she places on supporting and honoring the seniors as they take their next steps towards higher education.

The Takeaway 

In response to the school’s efforts to honor their achievements, QPA seniors celebrated College Decision Day with enthusiasm. Scholars’ chosen colleges were announced, while they proudly displayed their chosen colleges in the auditorium  creating a vibrant atmosphere. Nevertheless, in recognizing the seniors’ achievements and the challenging journey they undertook, this well-deserved celebration marked just the beginning of more accomplishments to come. As we look ahead to the upcoming seniors, Marylin’s inspiring words resonate: “When you believe you can’t, that’s exactly when you should.” This encapsulates the spirit of determination and resilience that will guide upcoming seniors through their own college decision-making process and future endeavors.