Over the past few months, like you, I’ve witnessed careful construction: a foundation poured, leveled, smoothed; supports set, checked, reset; and new wires stretched, tested, aligned. Though I could be describing the new science wing, I’m thinking about all of the developments I’ve seen from the AVID students, along with Taryn Barber, the AVID coordinator, and the rest of the AVID team.
In August, I participated in the AVID orientation, helping push a few kids out of summer stupor while also being surprised at how quickly most were adopting a new view of themselves as scholars.
If I asked you what AVID was, you might have no clue, you might think it’s a challenging elective, you might think it’s “not fun,” or you might actually have the answer. It is challenging and it forces students to plan, to work and to be organized—all of which might not be “fun” and are definitely challenging.
Most importantly, though, it is what its name promises: Advancement Via Individual Determination. Over the past few months, I have been increasingly impressed by the motivation and purpose of many of the AVID students as well as the strides they have taken in their classes. The most successful students are those who chose AVID because of their determination, rather than just wanting the advancement.
AVID is not for every student. You have to have the grades (2.0 or better) and you have to want to get better grades and to see yourself as a scholar. If you don’t want those things, then you probably wouldn’t enjoy the class. It is also not for students resistant to hard work, because it’s not an easy class, but it’s the class that will make the other ones you’re taking easier.
I hope that I continue to have AVID kids in my classes because I see all of that construction going on. I see them renovating their view of themselves as thinkers, problem-solvers, and achievers, and I can’t wait to see what they will do next.
Editors note: Martha Noone currently serves as the English Department Chair.