Having made a strong transition and discovered your academic footing, sophomore year is the time in which we encourage you to challenge yourself scholastically, working hard in the classroom and honing in on your interests. Now is also the moment to start deeply pursuing your passions, whether they manifest within athletic, artistic or service oriented fields.

As leadership is an important component of not only the Mayfield community but also the college admission process, students should begin exploring ways in which they can make a difference and use their abilities to affect their surroundings. There are many opportunities to lead at Mayfield and beyond, and each sophomore is encouraged to take advantage of those options. Students will also be introduced to the standardized testing process for the first time, in the hopes that this early assessment will make each young woman more familiar, comfortable and aware of the testing structure and requirements.

This is when the college admission process begins in earnest. As soon as you take your first semester finals, we get started. The conversation opens not with the colleges, but with you. We will ask you to reflect on what it is you really want for your college experience, your strengths, challenges, ambitions and personality. The soul-searching is first.

Concurrently, you will meet as a family with your college counselors to begin exploring options, addressing your fears and defining your dreams. Visiting campuses and investigating colleges will round out the first steps to designing your initial list.

Balance is the key to this busy and challenging year. Between academic responsibilities, leadership positions, community involvement and beginning the college process, we want you to stay grounded in the present, even as you look to the future. It is important to make time to have some fun with your friends and family and enjoy being in high school.

During the senior year, students will have the challenge of juxtaposing two skill sets in order to work through the admission process. On one hand, you're encouraged to think broadly, deeply examining your personal strengths and needs, and doing some serious reflection, all with the goal of uncovering a balanced list of colleges that you are thrilled to apply to and that you love! On the other hand, this process is filled with details and deadlines, and you must remain fully organized and in tune to all the minute pieces that need tending.

With the guidance of the college counselors, seniors will maneuver through this delicate balancing act, all the while keeping an eye fixed on the goal of this journey; to find your future home, community and academic contemporaries. With the doors always open, college counselors will walk you through each step at a time, supporting you as you ultimately make your final college decision.