Ann Roboski - Starting the School Year

 Hello! My name is Ann Roboski and I am a first-year AmeriCorps VISTA serving with Capital Area College Access Network (CapCAN) in Lansing, Michigan. I am serving at Dansville High School and the Wilson Talent Center as a College and Career Advisor. CapCAN’s mission is, “making completion of post-secondary education an achievable reality for all residents of the capital area….. to increase college and career readiness, participation, and completion.”
 
This past month has kept me quite busy with building connections at my sites, informing students of how I can assist with college applications, filing for FAFSA, scholarships, and frequently telling people, “I am not a high school student.”
 
I am currently planning and coordinating college visits and college fairs for Dansville High School and the Wilson Talent Center. I am also beginning to plan for the month of October which is College Application Month! I am quite excited about the upcoming events and to see the turnout!
 
Although I grew up in the Lansing area, I hadn’t frequented either of the sites that I now serve at much. Dansville High School and the Wilson Talent Center are in more rural areas and it’s been quite interesting to drive by farms and fields to get to my sites every day. Although the sites themselves are in similar locations, they are much different from each other. The Wilson Talent Center offers career and technical education courses for high school juniors and seniors in the Ingham Intermediate School District area. Additionally, the Wilson Talent Center has around 440 seniors. In contrast, Dansville High School is a traditional high school and has around 60 seniors. 
 
In the first few weeks at my sites, I was quite nervous, but as time went on and I became more familiar with the schools, staff, students, and my various tasks, I began to gain confidence and a sense of determination with my assignments. I am really enjoying getting to know the staff and students at Dansville High School and the Wilson Talent Center. There is a great sense of community and a welcoming atmosphere at both sites!