Webutuck's alum give their 2 cents

WEBUTUCK — Webutuck Central School District’s junior and senior classes filed into the high school library for a special question-and-answer session about college, but the answers came from some unexpectedly familiar sources.

Six recent Webutuck alumni, including four from last year’s graduating class, exchanged  advice and perspectives, both practical and comical at times, to younger friends, classmates and neighbors.

Alumni Recognition Day, as it is called, is organized by the school’s guidance department. Due to inclement weather the event was postponed from Wednesday, Jan. 12, to the following day. Around 10 school alumni were invited, guidance councilor Julie Taft said. The following six current college students participated:

Amanda Zuluaga, graduated in 2007, currently a senior at SUNY Potsdam.

Jessica McCoy, graduated in 2007, currently a senior at Siena College in Latham.

Chris Barros, graduated in 2009, currently a freshman at Herkimer County Community College.

Jamie Clinton, graduated in 2009, currently a freshman at Nichols College in Dudley, Mass.

Alyssa Westfall, graduated in 2009, currently a freshman at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I.

Ryan Andrade, graduated in 2009, currently a freshman at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass.

The six traded stories from their college careers, answered questions from both staff and students and in general pressed students to make good use of the freedom that college provides to take hold of their own futures.

“Do what makes you happy,� Andrade said, who described her interest in photography as developing from a hobby to a passion. “Go to school and get your education, but study what you want to study.�

Most everyone agreed that college was a major change from high school (more freedom, no mothers to do your laundry for you, roommates using your things without permission) but there was the occasional horror story. Clinton is planning to transfer schools, citing Nichols College as having little to do in terms of a social scene.

“The nearest movie theater is an hour-and-a-half away,� she said to gasps and murmurs in the audience. “We go to the supermarket for fun.�

If anything, the advice from Webutuck’s graduates was cautionary above all else: Take the time to pick the right school and take advantage of the Advanced Placement courses at Webutuck as a senior. The alums also said the advantages of being an RA (resident assistant), despite the negative reputation, are great, as are signing up for classes early and making sure to attend class even though attendance policies are much more lax.

The list went on. Several students showed a genuine interest in the first-hand accounts of college life. One student made a comment after the bell rang and the senior class dispersed that he wasn’t going to college.

If secondary education seemed like an alien world to a group of students whose weekdays revolved around scheduled class bells, the college dress code at least seemed unanimously appealing.

“Everybody goes to class in pajamas,� announced Barros to universal laughter.

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