Daniel and Mikki have some new photos to share on the Hi-Point Journeys Flickr page.   Make sure you check them out.

You can also see videos posted on the Hi-Point Journeys YouTube Channel. And, as if that wasn’t enough, become a fan of the Facebook Fan Page documenting the “journey” of these 10 Ohio Hi-Point Career Center seniors throughout their final years of high school.

If you are a sophomore, a freshman or an 8th graders at one of our partner school districts, become a fan of the Facebook page, post on the wall or in the discussions tab “what you want your Hi-Point Journey to be when you become a student at OHP?” and you will instantly be entered into a drawing to win an iPod Touch or a Flip Cam, the same Flip Cams these students are using in the Hi-Point Journeys campaign.

Trying to figure out if I wanted to come to OHP was really hard for me because I have always been really active in my home school in sports, and I also have a lot of friends there and wasn’t sure what it was going to be like going to a different school my junior year not knowing a lot of people.  I also have a twin sister which was different when coming here because I wasn’t around her all day long in classes like I was use to.  When trying to decide if this was the right choice it became easy after I came and met our instructors.  They made me see that it was a good opportunity because if you would happen to change your mind at least you know before you graduate.

My senior instructor also helped me see that you can still play sports and come here because she was also involved in sports in high school while attending here.  Also when I came for the sophomore preview days it gave me a better understanding of what the school was like because I knew I have always wanted to be a cosmetologist, but I just was never sure of when I was going to attend.  When learning the opportunities that OHP was able to give I made my choice in coming here.  Some people say you don’t get the same knowledge and experience when going to Hi-Point verses an actual school of cosmetology.  Although there have been many girls who have graduated from Hi-Point and work in nice, high-paying salons.  I also thought it was a good idea because of the money.  I am going to be able to still have the choice to go college for business if I choose while working in a salon.

It was hard choosing a program at Hi-Point.  I came for Sophomore Career Days my sophomore year and went through the Printing and Graphics program and then Business Administration.  I enjoyed both programs greatly.  It was a hard decision to make. I weighed the pros of each program.  Business allows me to start my own business and learn all the ideals of running a business or working for a large company and even launching and creating websites.  Printing and Graphics would have allowed me to take, edit, and create different pictures, and also create screen tees, for example.

At that time I was looking for something more towards the website career.  I chose my Business Administration program because it interested me the most and also allows me to do things that Printing and Graphics does, but not to the same extent.  So it ended up being a win-win for me. Business Administration so far has been a lot of fun.  I have learned how to create websites using Dreamweaver and also had launched one last year for a team competition.  I enjoyed it greatly.  I have also learned many other useful things in my lab such as how to create different things in Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher. I also ended my junior year with my Microsoft Office Certification in PowerPoint.  At the end of this year I will be certified in all Microsoft Office Applications.

MyOhhhMy! The past two weeks of school have been extremely intense.  It’s funny how much I dreaded having to come into the Electronics Engineering program this year at OHP after they had to discontinue my program, Mechanical Engineering, after last school year. I now regret thinking and talking negatively about it, because I love my new program and the benefits that it’s giving me. I went to a college fair last week, and I received a lot of attention for being a woman in the engineering area of study.  I realized that I was able to learn mechanical engineering and electronics skills during my high school career, and they both go hand-in-hand in the real world. How lucky am I? I have a sweet lab instructor who actually let his program join together with engineering just to help out four students who got caught in the middle of a discontinuation of our program at OHP.

I have met so many new people this year so far just in my program alone. I’m becoming great friends with all of the students and lab is super fun every day.  The guys are hilarious and keep me laughing until my cheeks hurt.  Mr. Kouse is the “bomb.” He knows how tough it is for me to be one of four girls in a class full of guys, so he made a special spot for me in the lab. It involves a mirror so I definitely won’t lose touch with my feminine side!  So to any ladies reading this, don’t be intimidated by the “man” program, you are wanted and needed in the field of engineering.

The start of my senior year has been pretty good. I can’t wait to graduate and get my cosmetology license at the same time!!!  I recently got chosen as Student of the Month, which is pretty exciting. I just went to a luncheon at the Kiwanis Club (in Bellefontaine), which was pretty interesting to hear the Judge speak.

Throughout our first couple weeks we actually haven’t been able to meet with the juniors because this year our program decided to double the number of girls that usually get accepted into the program. My senior class has around 20 in it and right now there are around 40 juniors. They did this because here at Hi-Point, Cosmetology and Health Tech are two programs that many people want to come for.

From coming here, I have made many friends, and I’m so glad I decided to come because I am getting ahead of everyone else who wants to go into cosmetology, and I  actually have my license in my hand when I graduate where I can also work in a salon and go to college for business. Right now in “Cos” we’re still working on costumers Wednesday through Friday, so if you want your hair done, manicures, pedicures or facials, come on in because I personally want more experience under my belt when going into a salon next year. Keep checking out my “journey” here at OHP!!

The new students are always something to get used to at the beginning of the year. I am in a lab where we have one-year students along with my classes. The juniors can be shy at first, but as soon as you find common ground with those you don’t know you become friends. Most juniors are just as shy as you are, though once you start talking you become instant friends. There are several in my lab I have made friends with already this year and we haven’t made it through a quarter yet. I’m excited that I can make more new friends and hopefully will have more to come by the end of the year!

I have started on my senior project slightly. I am doing a website for a company. A few weeks ago I met with the company so we could talk about the many things they wanted their website to do for them. Now I am working with the site and installing an application called Joomla so they can update the site themselves when I am completely finished. So far it’s been a great year!! I hope it only gets better.

First of all, the thought of being a senior isn’t as precious until someone else reminds you! When someone says, “Hey, you’re a senior!,” you get that reminder, and it is AMAZING!!!

* I start out my day in my Cosmetology lab with Mrs. Harlan as my instructor. We have lab from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM then we switch with the juniors for our turn in the classroom for our ” related” – bookwork!!!

* After related we have lunch. Even though most labs do not, we tend to push tables together so we can all sit together! We can’t help that we are such a tight knit class!! lol

* 7th period starts my academic classes! (: I have government with Mr. Lang, which is not my favorite subject, but I think it’s important to learn before I am voting and trying to choose who is right to vote for President of the U.S.A.!!! Mr. Lang seems to be a pretty nice and cool guy, so I foresee a great year!

* 8th period is current world issues with Mrs. Loy!!!  This class isn’t a piece of cake, and I think I like that most! Learning about the world today, how we got to where we are now, and what measures it’s taking to pick ourselves up and carry our bodies through the “storm” of today’s everyday living. Not that the world is all bad, but there are just a lot of things we need to be more aware of and different measures that need to be taken in order to make sure things go as smooth as possible. HEALTH CARE IS A HUGE ISSUE!!!!!!!

* Last but not least, 9th period – English 12 with Mr. Gilbert. English is and has always been one of my favorite subjects… we went through our 17 steps in power writing and read Beowulf. We are about to start comparing Beowulf to other epic heroes in other readings.

Besides my classes, I continue to meet new people here at Hi-Point! Being that I am the only guy in Cosmetology, many know who I am, but I have no clue who they are before I meet them. But I guess it’s good to know that people know who I am!!! WOOT WOOT!

We received our Flip Cams for our blogging; meaning not only pictures, but also videos!! yee-haa!

I go on my first trip for lead ambassadors for this year tomorrow, 9/24, to Ridgemont. I am excited! And I hope to get pictures to show you! And I continue to look forward to keeping you up-to-date regarding “my journey,” so I hope you keep reading!!!

The FlipCams arrived Monday and the students are now in possession of one of the coolest pieces of technology!  These will allow them to provide video of their journeys throughout the year.

You can check out their videos (Taylor and Shana have already posted some) on the Hi-Point Journeys YouTube Channel.

Well I’ve had a pretty good start off to my senior year.  Adjusting to my new classes wasn’t as bad as I had expected.  I had previously met several people last year, which are in this year’s classes.  I’ve also met a few others that I didn’t know last year.  In the Health Science Academy, our juniors and seniors are separated into three groups in the morning, and three in the afternoon.  Mrs. Heitmeyer and Mrs. Donnelly teach separate groups of juniors, while Mrs. Purcell is busy helping our seniors get ready to be certified, which I’m beyond excited for.
Our seniors last year came up with the idea of a senior mentor program.  We put a junior and senior together, and if the juniors had any problems, or questions, they could easily ask their mentor.  This also helped our seniors get to know our juniors.  As a senior, I’m hoping we do this again.  So far this year, I feel I’m being challenged to reach to be a better health care provider.  There’s a lot more studying to be done outside of class than there was last year.  Studying outside of class this year has helped a lot.
In our STNA (State-Tested Nurses’ Assistant) course we take several notes a day, and if they’re not being looked over every night, chances are, you may not succeed.  I take this quite seriously, and study when I feel it’s needed.  Last year and this year I feel my lab teachers were very understanding.  My lab teacher this year has very high expectations, and expects no less, so we reach to go above and beyond in the work we do.  This trait in a teacher to me is awesome.  If she expected any less, we wouldn’t be doing our best, as health care providers.

Hey guys and gals. I’m back again to bring you an amazing blog. These first few weeks have been going pretty great. I’ve been making a lot of new friends this year. You would think that would happen with so many students coming in this year. I have been able to see a lot of friends that I made last year, too, which has been AWESOME!

It’s been very different this being in my second year at Hi-Point. Now I have all my academics in the morning, and that’s a big change right now. I’ve begun working on my senior project this year.  Right now, I’m mostly in the planning stages.

Another change is that I have my lab in the afternoon. I like this so much because it seems like for the last two and a half hours I get to learn my trade and really focus on that. I hope to have some pictures and videos up this week., so I will TTYL!