STA held a panel in the auditorium during Activity 1 and 2 Jan. 5 about the transition from STA to life at college. The panel was held by graduates of STA’s class of 2015. There were 11 girls on the panel each, one from a different college. Some of the colleges the girls were students at included Villanova, Belmont, Rockhurst University, Marquette, and Mizzou. Most of the questions for the panel were asked by Debi Hudson, one of STA’s college counselors. At the end of the panel, students were also allowed to ask the 2015 graduates questions.

During the panel, graduates gave advice to students about finding and dealing with roommates, food plans, balancing school and a social life and coping with homesickness. Other advice the suggestions to save old notes from STA, befriend professors and call home frequently. Overall, the girls on the panel seemed to agree that STA had prepared them very well for college, both in terms of learning to manage their time and deal with academic rigor.

“Everyone I’ve talked to feels completely prepared,” class of 2015 graduate Hillary Talken said.