BCS Home & Family
Join the Student Engagement Team as they talk about the important partnership between BCS and the Home.
BCS Home & Family
How Students Can Work with Buckeye to Advance Their Academics
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In this episode, Anna, Devin and Cory discuss ways students can cooperate with Buckeye to help further their academic success.
Well, welcome back to the Holman Family Podcast. I'm your host, Tom Toney, here along with Anna Tinnarello, Devin Durain, and Corey White. And today we're going to talk about the part students play in their own academic journey. So in the BCS system, we recognize that this is a student-centric system. There's a lot of catering passionately to the needs of the students to help them get to this goal of success, of ringing the bell and even beyond the bell. But today we're going to talk about some practical ways that students, yes, you as students, if you're listening to this podcast, you can help cater to Buckeye. You can help perpetuate your own success. And so we're going to hear from these passionate individuals some things they might sit across from you and say if they felt like they could, to say, hey, come on, let's go. Well, let's work together in this. And here's the part that you can play. So guys, let's jump in. What comes to mind for you when you think about the things students can do to help themselves?
SPEAKER_00I'm going to go ahead and just kind of start off. One of the things that hits me that really differentiates Buckeye is the power of relationships. And relationships, uh, it it's it's about more than just one person. Um, so we've talked a lot about uh, you know, some of the things that are offered at Buckeye and our culture and um different ways that we engage our students, but without that student, as part of that relationship, um it's a it would be a tremendous struggle to be able to assist and support. Um so I think fundamentally one of the the key components is communication um to help build the foundation of the the relationship.
SPEAKER_02Have communication. Um we know you guys, if you are listening, like Tom said, or on your phones eight to twelve hours a day, screen time, just communicate with us. Um that's that's all it takes to get the conversation started to figure out what's going on, what the needs are, how do we get to point A to point B? Um, just communicate with us. Either that's face to face, uh, via text. Um, some students use email still um or a phone call.
SPEAKER_01Um but communic communications is huge. So, what are some of the things, Corey, that they would communicate that you feel like might be gaps sometimes?
SPEAKER_02What's going on? If they haven't shown up for a week, like, hey, what's what's going on? We haven't heard from you for a week now. Your teacher has been reaching out. Um, that's usually when we get involved. And what's what's going on? What's uh what's changed?
SPEAKER_01What do you need? So specifically, I'm hearing you say that sometimes a teacher will reach out, the student doesn't reach back, and then the teacher refers to you guys, you reach out, and that's often when contact is made, right? Correct. Yep. So maybe is it is it like talk to your teacher, communicate back to your teacher. Not that you don't want to, you're all about it, but it could happen quicker.
SPEAKER_00And you know, a lot of times teachers are are letting them know first thing right off the bat is, you know, I'm gonna be here during the week on these days during these hours. And a student may feel like, well, shoot, I can't go in on any of those days, but I could on a different time. And if they would relay that and just share that, that will at least help the teacher know like when to expect the student and maybe connect them with a tutor or another teacher that's in the building so they can continue to get the support they need.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, a lot of times it could be just a student struggling on a subject and and embarrassed to tell the teacher, like, hey, I don't have any work done because I'm struggling. Um just communicate that because that's what like we talked about in the later podcast, is we don't judge. Um, we care. There's no embarrassment here.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Just let her know, let her or him know what's going on. That way we can better serve you.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. And it I mean, if you haven't listened to previous podcasts and heard all the scenarios that we've we've told or or you know shared about previous students, um barriers and such, all of that started by a student or a parent communicating. It's we we're not fortune tellers and we can't see what's going on. And it just even the little tidbit that you share with this uh the instructor or the support staff, those little moments that you don't see anything like, well, I don't know why I just shared that with you, all of a sudden turn into this amazing outcome because now you have so many people invested in saying, tell me more, let's let's see what we can do to try and help that. Um, and the go along with, you know, during that week of absence, why you know a student may have missed. There, we've had situations where a student had a passing in the family or they got evicted, or you know, all any of that. The thing with BCS is we want to be there to try and help and support. So whether it's some of those extreme scenarios or even the most smallest of something, we want to be able to be somebody that can be helping you through that moment in time and seeing if there is more of a need from us.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. That communication cycle then becomes so huge, right? Because like you said, how do you know if you don't know? Exactly.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And I think, I mean, it's it's overcoming the barriers, but it's also we want our students to be the leaders of their plan. Um and, you know, our teachers are working on individual learning plans. We want our our students to be a part of that. It's their plan. Um, so if if there's minimal participation, you know, the teachers are are really guiding that. We want our students to be the ones that are guiding that and taking charge and sharing with their teachers really what it is that they like to do, don't like to do, where they've thought about, you know, going in the future, um, things that they're interested in. Maybe they would want to go to college someday. Maybe they would like to be a part of a career tech program. So without that student's input, it's hard for us to know how to guide them. So, you know, take lead and take charge.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. That's gonna serve them better in life once they're graduated as well. Like you're working in a job and you have a skill set that your boss doesn't know you have, communicate that with them. You want to raise, you want a promotion, communicate that. So you can be an advocate for yourself. And we don't we don't have to be the advocate all the time.
SPEAKER_01So is there a difference, do you think, between just doing what you're told and actively participating in your own success? Is there a difference between the because I'm a little hearing that a little bit in what you're saying there, Anna, is the the next step further for students might be it's great, do do the things you're assigned to do, but then there's a level where you can actively engage in participating with your own success.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. Because when you're engaged in that, you own it and you're gonna be more passionate and more likely to follow through with those things too, versus someone just telling you, like, this is what you have to do in order to be able to graduate or or do this or that. And maybe it's not something that really interests you, but when when you're kind of guiding your next steps and so forth, um, and your plan is developed around that, you're gonna feel like, well, this is what I want to do. And it's not just somebody telling me I have to do it.
SPEAKER_03I had the awesome opportunity to tour Whirlpool recently and the shout out to Whirlpool. The amazing thing of the tour guides are they started on the line doing what Whirlpool asked them to do, shoot screws in the washer or in the dryer and just do this repetitively every day. So this was with students? This no, this was with a leadership group that went to Whirlpool. I would love to take with students. I think it'd be empowering. Uh the two supervisors that took us on a tour started on the line, just doing what Whirlpool asked them to do. And then the next thing you know, um, one of the supervisors found a new way to do something on the line, a safer way and a more productive way. So he voiced that opinion. Whirlpool listened to that voice. And if he had he not said anything, done anything, they wouldn't have been able to save the time that they were saving on production. And because of that, he was able to step into a safety leadership role that now is like the standard at Whirlpool. Wow. And so power and voice is so strong. And so I just I had to share that because, like, as Anna was talking, it just it made me think of him specifically that he could have just kept shooting that screw over and over because that's what he was told. But because he saw an opportunity, uh, something that was a more safe uh more safe approach and more um beneficial to him and to those around him, he shared and it just opened up doors.
SPEAKER_01Yes, that communication, uh literally the information you share could be the key to unlocking all the things, the success and and the next steps. I love that. So definitely communicate. What else comes to mind for you? Uh where concerns things students can do to cooperate with their own success.
SPEAKER_00Well, I know when when students enroll, they're also sharing that they're gonna commit to coming in and meeting with their teachers. And then sometimes slowly but surely we might see less of and definitely turning in work, but not always necessarily committing to the time with, you know, meeting one-on-one with their teacher. And then suddenly there starts to be some struggles with the work. And I think what I would just want to share is meet with your teacher. That's what they're there for. They can give you immediate feedback. And that's the beauty of Buckeye. Work that you've been working on away from the school and turn in, they can grade them right away. They can let you know, like where in the book that you may be able to learn a certain area that you were struggling with, or they may be able to help you with the concepts right then. So you're getting the work like one-on-one versus having to really like a class that you you just maybe don't like at all, and you string that out for a really long time. Maybe you haven't had a lot of success with it. You know, if you just met with them for, you know, weekly, um, I think that it would make a really big difference to allow the teacher to be able to support and help. And that's what they're there for.
SPEAKER_01So routine, routinely meeting with the teachers, coming in and meeting with them.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yes.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_03Definitely don't feel like you have to do it on your own. I think students get that exam book and they take it home and they're like, man, I'm just gonna power through this thing and I'm good. And then they sit at home and they're like, man, I'm not getting this. But then sometimes you're just you're reluctant to be like, uh I know the teacher's there, but I don't know if I want to go in right now. But that when you do and you realize you don't have to do it on your own. So when you're at home and you're had at a struggle point, like Anna said, your teacher's there. And man, like Buck, we've said before, Buckeye has hired the right people that are there to genuinely help you through that moment. So that's what they love to do. Yes.
SPEAKER_01That's why they're sitting there.
SPEAKER_03They're like, let's go. Exactly. Love that.
SPEAKER_02What I'm hearing you guys say too is just effort. Give some effort. Yeah. Because you're gonna you're gonna get some ownership of your work and your own self-worth. And that's gonna snowball into a lot of confidence going forward. And it's gonna that's gonna take you places.
SPEAKER_01Um effort. Let's talk about effort real quickly here. Like what are some practical things that a student could do if they find themselves struggling and putting in the effort? What are some things they could do to sort of get get that more motivation in themselves?
SPEAKER_00I think even we have tutors that are there daily that can really invest quite a bit of time, as much time as the student wants. So truly, this uh someone could come in and stay for as long as they need, sometimes just for maybe it's just a couple of questions, but some really need more time and they want to stay for, you know, you know, say it's all day long. You know, we have staff, staff that are there for as long as uh, you know, students need it. And if it can't be the teacher because they have other students that are helping, we have tutors that are there that can help and that can provide that one-on-one for as long as the student's needing it.
SPEAKER_03I think of when we think of effort, and this is across the board to every school that's that's in America, don't rely on AI. Like if I could just touch on that for one second, yeah. It takes more effort to to take that picture and hope that AI is leading you to the right answer. And then if it's not, you're searching again. Where, you know, we have our exam books that all of the information you need is in that book, literally chapter by chapter. I mean, every time you take an exam, it's in within those five pages. And so if you just put the effort in, not only do you feel better, you're not gonna have uh an exam handed back to you as a retake because you found the answer right there in the physical book. You got it right. Um, so I just I see it too often with my own kids, with students. Um, they think AI is just this genius tool that's gonna lead them to get every answer. And the amount of effort you put into finding the answer within the book is only teaching yourself and your mentality. When I put in the work, I I now have that information. It's not AI telling me I have that information.
SPEAKER_01It's really good. I think about uh teaching my son to play golf. And, you know, in the beginning, he's like, Do you know how to do you know how to play golf? Do you know how to swing the club? Yeah, dad, I do. Like, great, how do you do it? And he would tell me how to do it, and then we'll go, let's go to the driving range. And the actual experience is far different than the perceived experience, right? It's like the actual and and that's where you're genuinely learning. You're learning in the struggle of attempt and effort. So the effort to show up, the effort to reach out, the effort to try, to research it yourself, to dig in and do is is where you're building the muscle of success. Because once you know how to do it, now you've built the routine of actually doing it, right? The effort that goes into it. What else comes to mind for you? What are other things that you mean? I just wish students would.
SPEAKER_00Mine would be that they do not wait to the last minute. Sometimes when they're, you know, they're they're working a lot, they've got some family things going on, and suddenly some days click away and there's absences, and they might be doing the work and not getting it to the school and waiting until the last minute, but they also may not be doing the work because it's very difficult. And when you're absent and when you're not coming in and when you're not making progress in your classes, you're getting behind. So although you have that goal to graduate and you want to, when you're not coming in and you're not making progress, eventually you begin to fall behind.
SPEAKER_02Procrastination is not your friend. Coming coming from a guy that's very good at procrastinating. Yes, it's not your friend. Do not rely on that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, I love it. So that that not waiting, it's so fascinating because again, I even feel the tension of talking about these things because so much of the Buckeye culture uh caters to overcoming those barriers for students, right? And and their families, which I think is beautiful, it's brilliant. And that's non-negotiable for Buckeye. That's always going to happen. Uh, yet on the other side of the coin, here are some practical things that as students you can do to enhance your experience. I mean, you're so suddenly because you're now communicating more or you're putting in more effort or you're not waiting till the last minute or you're giving it the old college try, that doesn't mean that anybody at Buckeye is going to back off. Right. Right.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But what it does mean is that because now you're cooperating in a greater way, it's going to accelerate, right? It's you're gonna, you're gonna learn things in a greater way and a more intrinsic way that becomes more personal for you. So um, you know, as I'm just I just want to say that out loud that it sometimes it's like feels like attention, like, oh wait, we're putting a little bit of pressure on the students. Are we allowed to do that? Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I think even like a little bit uh on the flip side of it, sometimes we have students that want to get it done so fast, it's more of like a race to get it all done. And sometimes it's it's important to slow down and take in all that you can because there's so many things that are offered at Buckeye from Career Tech and even College Credit Plus. You know, students can really um get a lot of opportunities to earn college credit, um, take part in a lot of things. And so it's not always how how quick you can get it done, um, but really some of the other things that you can take in that brings a lot of value too.
SPEAKER_03And with how many support members there are at Buckeye, I I would hate for a student to miss a potential conversation point or or a moment of wisdom from whether it be the instructor, your building principal, uh, some of the student support, family engagement, enrollment specialist. I mean, every single person, when you walk into Buckeye and you start to show up and you're meeting with your teacher, every single person starts to have conversation, have a relationship with you. And every single person is pouring in some sort of wisdom or some sort of advice or encouragement. And so if we were to allow students to just zip through this and get you to the finish line, ring the bell, you're out your way. I feel like so many key moments that happen through within Buckeye would be missed. And so part of it is that trust the process. Don't see the end goal and just want to get there as fast as possible. Understand that there's there's opportunities within Buckeye, and we want you to have those opportunities right there, ready to go.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Love that. Absorb the experience, right? So this is where I feel like we are. If they're if we're creating a list, here are the things that we've mentioned. Communicate, right? Communicate to your teachers, let them know what's going on. Uh, stop in, stop in and meet with your teacher. Uh, just make sure you're in that face-to-face moment. Uh, put in the effort, like go the extra mile and the things that you're attempting to do and putting in the effort to do, and then expunge the most that you can out of the experience. Like uh build the relationships, be present when you're there. Um, and just sort of show up, right? Show up for the process so that you get the most out of the BCS journey. All right, I love it, you guys. Thank you so much for sharing this. I think it's gonna be helpful for students to hear that because really genuinely, if if they continue to step up their game, it's only going to enhance the overall journey. So thank you for sharing all that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, thank you.