AVID
ADVANCEMENT VIA
INDIVIDUAL
DETERMINATION Contributed by: Cheyenne Hellinger, GHS Sophomore
A
dvancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, is a program designed to provide professional learning for students seeking to close opportunity gaps and improve college and career readiness. This program traditionally assists underrepresented students as they apply for scholarships, gain college credits, and enroll in more rigorous classes such as dual credit, AP, and honors classes. “We work on projects that help us to find colleges near us that we might like and find information on them,” sophomore Adriana Lopez said. As of this year, AVID is now also offered at the junior high. This gives students up to a two-year head start, making for even better success rates as they transition into high school. They begin by learning study skills, team building, note taking, public speaking, and working through difficulties with their peers. Students also gain insight into how college works as well as skills that
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• Gainesville SPOT SPOTlight light • Winter 2020
can be used both in the AVID classroom and core classes. AVID helps students gain study habits, essay writing skills, college application support, and overall organization strategies. “This first year of AVID at the junior high is surpassing any expectation that I had going into it,” said Taylor Michalka, GJH AVID teacher. “These kids are really benefiting from this program. It has already taught them so many things. I am so excited to see all the great things AVID is going to do for our students!” Students are taught to be organized with the use of their AVID binder, which gives them an organizational system for all their work, notes, and everything they need to be ready for class. This helps build essential study skills they will need in both high school and college. “AVID’s goal is to prepare students for college and career readiness,” GHS AVID
teacher Justin Bigelow said. “Students get help walking through the college application process and are given tools that will help to close opportunity gaps.” For some students, AVID is benefiting them in other ways. AVID is designed to help first-generation college students understand the process and meet all the deadlines that are necessary when applying to college. Having help with the college application process is game changing. “No one from my family has been to college yet, and I needed help and information on how to apply,” sophomore Ana Huerta said. AVID has weekly grade checks and tutorial sessions to ensure that students are able to improve their overall college appeal. “AVID has helped my grades in other classes as well,” sophomore Elijah Gonzales said. AVID really is an essential part of these students' lives and allows them to even the playing field and get a step ahead. The AVID program is helping a variety of students to prepare for their future in high school, college and beyond. “AVID teaches us a lot of things that we will need to be successful in college and our future,” Lopez said.
