“Real advice. Real voices. Yours.”
These five words are the motto of college and career counselor Andrea Fuhrer’s latest venture, Elevate, a club created with the aim of incorporating student perspectives in college and career event planning.
Entering her second year working as college and career counselor, Fuhrer has overseen a number of of field trips, job fairs and college workshops. Building on that foundation, Fuhrer was inspired to start Elevate to give students a direct voice in shaping those experiences, by giving feedback, sharing ideas, and planning events that better reflect their needs.
“There are no words to describe how important I think [student input] is. I can do all these things, or we can do all these things in school, but if what we are doing is not what you need and how you need it, we’re missing the mark,” Fuhrer said. “[Elevate is] for students to have a voice, but for students to also be able to look at something with a critical eye and help make it better, and a chance for them to build their own skills through it.”
For Fuhrer, the name “Elevate” came not just from the goal of amplifying student voices, but from her aim to raise standards for preparing students for after graduation.
“When [students] come to me, they want to be elevated,” Fuhrer said. “That’s the ultimate goal in some way. Whether that means saving money, [or] whether it means stretching yourself to your highest potential scholarships, it’s all about elevating yourself for the highest possible yield and return on investment.”
For sophomore Alex Droste, joining Elevate is both an opportunity to improve personal goals, as well as improve the overall college and career experience for all students.
“I feel like it could better my future and help me become more successful,” Droste said. “Not just that, but because the students are the ones that are actually applying and trying to get in, I think their feedback would be helpful on how to improve.”
The club’s focus goes beyond just seniors, recognizing that preparing for life after high school is a journey that starts early. By opening the club to students of all grades, and offering opportunities for students interested in college, trades, and the military, Fuhrer aims to create an inclusive space where every student can plan their unique path for the future.
“I think it’s important because I think that younger students are going to graduate with college and career advice, and it’s important that they have their voices heard,” sophomore Reese Mclaughlin said.
The club’s first meeting will be held Sept. 9, where students will get the chance to learn about the goals of the club, when future meetings will be held and how they can give feedback on what they want to see in the future.
Additionally, in an upcoming event in September, the club will be welcoming college counselors to speak, who will give students an inside look at the admissions process, and answer why certain applicants were accepted into their university, and why others were not. Events like this are just the beginning for what Fuhrer has planned for Elevate, who is working to develop more opportunities to better help students feel confident in their future plans.
“I just want students to feel like they’re building something and leaving their mark in a meaningful way that means something to them,” Fuhrer said. “That is my goal, that they feel like that they can really make a difference in a way that they are passionate about.”
