By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Don’t be lazy.

Take harder classes to be ready for college.

Get involved in school activities. Volunteer. Colleges prefer involved students.

Don’t miss school. If you do, go to your teachers for help.

“Think about college now,” high school junior Ryan Lagasse told freshman boys Thursday. “Think about what you want to do.”

Lewiston High School freshmen spent the day hearing advice from upperclassmen to help boost their aspirations, especially those of boys.

During the “Shifting Gears” seminars, freshmen boys heard from junior boys, freshman girls from junior girls.

Nationally, there’s a gender gap of girls outperforming boys. More girls are going to college, achieving degrees, grabbing the higher incomes.

Lewiston is part of that national trend. Of last year’s graduates now in college, more are girls.

To improve those numbers, panelists of the seasoned high school students talked about what’s worked for them, how freshmen can do better.

In the boys’ lecture room, teacher Bernie Fortier handed out sheets that listed incomes that come with different levels of education.

Average annual income for someone with a high school diploma is $30,800.

The average income for someone with a four-year degree is $49,900.

“This is the money you’ll make with the education you have,” Fortier said. “If you want a nice car, nice clothing, nice toys, you better get a good education.”

A bigger paycheck is junior Abdinassar Abdi’s motivation to do well in school. When he was a freshman, his goal was simply to pass and have fun, Abdi said. Then he realized if he didn’t do well in school, he wouldn’t be able to go to college. If he didn’t graduate from college, he wouldn’t make good money.

“I want money,” Abdi said with a laugh.

Ryan Lagasse said he figured that to do better on a test, you have to do better in class. During lectures, take notes. Pay attention. Scores will improve.

Coming to school every day is also critical, junior Husayn Carnegie said. “It may seem like a good idea to stay home, sleep until noon and play video games the rest of the day.” But getting behind snowballs.

In the girls’ lecture hall, junior Kelsey Rodrigue said one mistake she made was not seeing her guidance counselor enough.

When students apply to colleges, they need good recommendations from their guidance counselors.

If the counselor doesn’t know you, its harder to write a good recommendation, Rodrigue said.

Freshmen were warned to stay away from “friends” who urge them to miss school, drink, smoke or take drugs. “Real friends are there to help you succeed,” junior Vicky Colby said. “They don’t keep you down.”

Whether its Advanced Placement classes that help students get ready for college work, or activities like sports, drama or student government, high school offers a lot, Colby said.

Students who want those opportunities can’t be shy about what they want. They can’t sit back, Colby said. “We have to go for it. Grab it, and run with it.”

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