1. Building A College Resume You are not too young to start!

2. to build a great resume for college? What Can I Do Now

3. Keep up that GPA! ●Your GPA counts more than you think. ●Take upper level courses. ●Do your homework consistently!!!! ●Study hard for all tests! ●Learn to balance your school requirements and personal life. ●Make time to get extra help in tutoring!

4. Demonstrate a positive attitude ●Avoid drama at all cost! ●Try to get along with all of your peers. ●Offer help to other students in need. ●Work hard to impress your teachers. ●Your ability to get along with others counts more than you realize! ●Be very careful about what you post in social media!!!

5. Stay active !!! ●Join clubs & organizations. ●Get involved in sports. ●Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! ●Find service opportunities outside of your community and church. ●Seek leadership development workshops. ●Work with a political campaign. ●Colleges love to see DIVERSITY

6. Volunteer and Community Service Some ideas include: ●Animal Rescue Organizations ●Nursing Homes & Hospices ●Foster Homes for Children ●Homes for those with Special Needs ●Nationally Known Organizations

7. Nationally Recognized Volunteerism: ●Habitat For Humanity ●St. Judes ●American Cancer Society ●Ronald McDonald House ●Red Cross ●Salvation Army ●Relay for Life

8. Local Volunteer Opportunities ●Various Museums in Mobile. (The Exploreum, Fort Conde, History Museum of Mobile) ●Bay Area Food Bank. ●MSPCA, ARF, Project Purr, etc. ●Local Relay for Life Events. ●Local Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Hospices. ●Organizations that Serve the Homeless. ●Camp Smile.

9. Seriously, what can a teenager do? ●Walk the dogs at animal adoption events. ●Call out Bingo numbers to the elderly. ●Make cookies for families at Ronald McDonald House. ●Collect & deliver items for the children in foster homes. ●Build and decorate bird houses for the Habitat for Humanity. ●Help feed the homeless on Sundays in Mobile. ●Collect tickets at the Chili Cookoff, etc. in Mobile. ●Make goody boxes for soldiers overseas.

10. What else can you do? ●Serve as a page in the Alabama Legislature ●Take part in leadership seminars at universities ●Help organize the food at the Bay Area Food Bank ●Deliver flowers at local hospitals through their teen volunteer programs ●Create your own charity drive and ask friends and family to support your charity ●Mail cards and gift boxes to soldiers overseas ●Make phone calls to find out where else you can help!

11. In short! It’s never too early to get started! ●Keep a file folder of all the academic, leadership, and volunteer events in which you take part. ●Include proof that you did, in fact, take part in these activities!

12. What kind of proof? ●Program brochures with your name listed. ●Pictures from the newspaper. ●Thank you letters. ●Newspaper articles. ●A form letter signed by the event director attesting to your participation. Yes, you may be asked to provide proof!

13. Seriously, I must provide proof? ●YES! ●You may be asked to provide proof that you did, in fact, take part in the activities listed on your resume. ●Keep a running file folder with your activities and include at least one piece of PROOF!

14. How much volunteer work? ●A good rule of thumb is at least 50 hours per year! ●The more you can volunteer (and show proof), the better!!!! ●It would be great to have over 200 volunteer hours logged in (with proof) before the beginning of your senior year.

15. Don’t wait too long to start ●Many local competitions (such as Azalea Trail) are based off your accomplishments in your freshmen and sophomore years! ●Get on the phone (or Internet) and see what organizations need your help! ●Remember to volunteer for activities at the local, county & state levels. Be willing to go outside of our own home town.

16. Additional Resources for Reading: http://makecollegereality.com/prepare/getting-involved/volunteer-programs-for- high-school-students.html https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/outside-the- classroom/extracurriculars-matter-to-you-and-to-colleges http://www.ownyourownfuture.com/files/documents/importance-of-getting- involved-e.pdf http://www.newfuturo.com/articles/help-your-kid-get-involved-in-high-school