The AVID program has become a key success for many middle and high school students seeking college and career readiness. Success within the program is not given, it is a process of consistent support that has built a strong foundation.
Jen Johnson, the AVID teacher at Rock Island High School, has been teaching the AVID curriculum for the past 11 years. Her role is to provide academic support and college preparedness for high school students. Funding for AVID is very vital, as it is used to pay for teacher training, supplies, field trips, t-shirts, and tutors. After seeing firsthand how AVID benefits students and teachers, Johnson shares how the program has made a difference. “I have benefited from being able to attend AVID teacher training for the past 11 years,” Johnson says. AVID teacher training gives teachers the knowledge and skills needed to apply directly to students, and additionally students have been able to travel to college campuses, which helps promote the AVID elective. Recently, a funding cut prevented students from being able to travel to college campuses, which was really unfortunate. Funding for AVID shapes opportunities and opens doors for students. “Field trips, college visits, and tutors are all essential for the program’s success. When we have funding, all is well. We can do all of the above, but without it, students lose those experiences, and the program’s impact is reduced,” Johnson says. Beyond the field trips and supplies, AVID funding also supports teachers. Training they receive is distributed across the classroom, benefiting the students far more. “The AVID site team is able to provide professional development to teachers, which ensures that more students are being exposed to the best practices,” Johnson says. Due to this, AVID influences a positive school culture, where AVID students stand out as leaders. “AVID students promote education and are leaders, that helps promote a positive school culture.” For Johnson, their motivation to strive for AVID funding is highly inspirational and personal. “Going to college changed my life, so I feel very strongly about others having that same opportunity,” Johnson said. They describe an AVID student to be “responsible, prepared, organized, respectful, kind, and persevere over obstacles,” Johnson says. Those qualities are going to carry those students beyond high school, and for the rest of their lives.
AVID has had many impacts on students, with one of the biggest differences being on underrepresented students. Johnson shines a light on how the program gives these students an opportunity to explore careers, engage in strategies that would help them succeed in difficult classes, and visit colleges. AVID students often have higher attendance and graduation rates, showing the true value of the program. Though, challenges still remain. “When students don’t get the opportunity to visit college campuses, it really takes away from the class,” Johnson said. “Moreover, if we can’t get tutors, then the tutorial process suffers,” Johnson says. The challenges exemplify why funding is vital for AVID.
If there was one message Johnson would leave for Rock Island High School students that are not in the AVID elective, it would be, “Being in AVID prepares you for life after high school, and you are surrounded by people who will support and motivate you.”
Honesty Vesey, a senior in the AVID program has been in the AVID program for 6 years, and says the journey has been long, though memorable. “AVID gives us resources, like tutors, who come twice a week to help us with our challenging classes,” she says. “AVID encourages us to take challenging classes, so twice a week, we have tutorial sessions with tutors for those classes. They grade us on our ability to ask questions, present, and write formally. We also turn in 2 notes from our classes and are graded on our ability to form quality notes.”
The goal for AVID is to guide students for life after high school. For Honesty, this was learning things outside of the classroom. “AVID has taught me to be prepared, organized, and responsible. I’ve learned how to take better notes, and step up to ask for help when I need it,” she said.
Though, the program is not anything without its struggles. Funding cuts have made success in AVID harder to achieve “When our funding got cut, it was challenging for us because we weren’t able to go on field trips or afford tutors. As upperclassmen, we had to help ourselves with the tutoring and tutorial process, and this was sometimes draining for us, but it also helped us work on our relational capacity, and build stronger relationships,” she says
Despite challenges, Honesty believes the program will leave a great impact. “AVID has directed me to abilities that I will use for the rest of my growth. I feel more confident and informed to make risky decisions. My abilities have improved, and will be useful from now on.”
AVID also focuses on relationships. Students in the program support each other in and out of the classroom. Honesty states, “We build friendships by working together on common tasks. We help each one with learning for tests and quizzes. We’re an AVID family.”
In the future, Honesty is ready to tackle anything that comes her way. “AVID has provided tools for me to chase my dreams. Mx. Johnson has helped a lot with the application process for college. I feel prepared for my future due to AVID.”
Honesty encourages students who are not in AVID to join. “I would recommend AVID to students that want to succeed, as it is not just for specific students, it’s for everyone. AVID is a support system, and it gives you the skills you need to succeed and surrounds you with people who will get you to where you need to be.”
When asked what separates an AVID student from a regular student, she states, “AVID students are more focused on their studies and their future. They are more aware of what needs to be done to be successful, and the mindset of an AVID student is far more different from a regular student because AVID students aren’t afraid to ask for help, and are always looking for ways to improve.”
Through Honesty’s words it is evident AVID has a huge impact on the lives of students. With stronger funding, this impact could reach more students and provide greater opportunities.
