In a few
short months, I will be headed off into the great unknown. It seems like just a
couple days ago when I thought the stress of applying to college would never
end: essays, recommendations, interviews, and the like. I recently realized,
though, that my anxieties were minuscule compared to that of Mr. Kraynak, the
upperclassmen guidance counselor. As his first year in this role, one of Mr.
Kraynak’s goals going into the 2012-2013 school year was “to make one
significant improvement to the guidance department.” This improvement came in
the form of bringing to WCHS a new online database tool called Naviance, which
will be utilized in full, beginning with the current juniors. Naviance is a
great resource for both parents and students, where surveys can be taken,
college lists made, and test scores tracked. Superior to paper records and a
good alternative to meeting with the guidance counselor face to face, Naviance
looks like it will prove to be a useful and user-friendly tool to jumpstart the
college application process.
When asked about his experience this
year, Mr. Kraynak described “tremendously long hours,” “voracious reading,” and
“hyper-communication” as a significant part of his experience. Despite his
highly dedicated, and many times, stressful, work, Mr. Kraynak says without
hesitation that his favorite part of being the guidance counselor was
“definitely interacting with the students.” Listening to students and guiding
them in a certain direction has been rewarding for him as well. For the upcoming
seniors and even the underclassmen, there are things that can be done to
prepare for senior year and college. Mr. Kraynak advises taking both the SAT
and ACT instead of becoming too biased toward one or the either, and also
recommends starting with a list of ten schools (instead of just a few) and
focusing on what is important to the individual. Characteristics that may serve
as distinguishing factors when considering colleges include location, student
body size, majors and programs, and proximity to home, among many others.
As he sends the current seniors off
and looks forward to future classes, Mr. Kraynak hopes that students will
“understand the value of academics.” He urges students to place significance on
academics, and to look beyond regional colleges. Advising students to apply for
their “reach” or dream schools, Mr. Kraynak says he would love to see WC alumni
step up as leaders all over the country in the business world, the medical
realm, and in other fields as well.
As a graduating senior, I can
testify firsthand that Mr. Kraynak has been a tremendous help to me in the
college application process. He listened to my questions and followed up with
me on the answers that very same day, and corresponded with my parents when
they had inquiries. My counselor recommendation was written in a timely and
meticulous fashion, and I knew that when I needed to talk about what was going
on in my mind, Mr. Kraynak would be willing and available to listen to my
rambling. I am so blessed to attend (soon to “have attended”) a school where
even the guidance department provides phenomenal support and reaches out to me
in love and wisdom. I sincerely hope that future senior classes will take
advantage of the incredible resources that are available at our school, and
experience for themselves the godly network of support that is clearly
noticeable at WCHS.
by Joy Cho
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