Balancing Two Identities
Many, if not most, 3-1-3 students are very active in their home schools. Every year a large percentage of the scholarship winners, newspaper editors, class presidents, valedictorians and sports stars mentioned in local papers include 3-1 3 as one of their activities.
The 3-1-3 advisers visit each participating school in the spring to schedule college classes with the incoming 3-1-3 students and their guidance counselor so that students are able to stay involved in those high school activities meaningful to them. A number of 3-1-3 students choose to become active on campus also. 3-1-3 students have written for the college newspaper and literary magazine, participated in theatrical productions, become members of the many college clubs and had on-campus jobs. In fact, most students find the wider variety of choices available to be one of the attractions of the program. Though the ability to set priorities and keep to schedules is important to success in 3-13, students are able to choose for themselves the extent to which they want to stay involved with high school or identify with the college.
The 3-1-3 program is for the interested, committed and motivated student. Certainly, academic ability is needed, but 3-1-3 is not a program for only the most academically gifted. A wide variety of students have used the 3-1-3 year as a beginning to a successful college experience.
