FROM THE TOP
LELAND ACKER chreporter@mediactr.com
Is it harder or easier to be a high school student than it was when we were in school? Be careful about how you answer.

In covering school events for Alto High School, I am reminded of something said by Principal Donald Patton during a board meeting.

"We're getting a lot of mileage out of these kids."

Alto High School has football players qualifying to participate in a program with NASA, that, if they succeed, they may work for NASA.

They have softball players who are also very involved in agriculture, academic honors programs and various other academic and athletic events.

Alto students are called upon to excel on the TAKS test, not only to pull Alto High School back up to an "acceptable rating," but also to create more collegiate opportunities.

The attitude in Alto is "We can do this," and they do. Very well, I might add.

Alto ISD is not alone in this either. Jacksonville, Rusk and Wells are all seeing students becoming more involved.

What is happening?

First of all, there is increased competition. College is becoming the new high school, thus making a college degree that much more vital to a successful career than it was 10-20 years ago. More kids are going to college, thus increasing the competition to get into the top-tier schools tougher.

In athletics, participation in "select" sports is rapidly becoming a prerequisite to being successful at the varsity level.

Second of all, high schoolers today are inundated with information. There are hundreds of TV channels, radio stations, plus the Internet has opened up an entire world of information (some true, some false).

When you take these factors (and many others), you begin to see that high schoolers today are living very hectic lives.

The truth is, we have never been 18 years old... at least, not in the time these students are 18. It is different for them. Most are handling the pace of life just fine. So, what can we do (besides banishing Al Gore for inventing the Internet?)

Encourage them. Studies show that the one thing missing in the life of a teenager is meaningful interaction and guidance from adults. Another thing they desire is acceptance.

"Train up a child up in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6).

Happy graduation, seniors! Next week, I'll give you my rendition of "Don't ask me how I know!"