Franklin High School opened its doors in 1909 and is the oldest high school in Seattle still in operation. This school primarily serves the Mt. Baker, Beacon Hill, and Columbia City neighborhoods. Franklin is culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse, with students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Today there are over 1,200 students that make up the vibrant population of Franklin.
In early December, the Franklin team and I had the chance to show off the talent and dedication of students by hosting a school tour for College Possible donors and advisory board members. They had the opportunity to see the spaces where we work, hear our firsthand experiences about serving at Franklin, and they even interacted with some students who were quick to share how much they love their school. From our conversations, it seemed that donors and advisory board members walked away from the tour as impressed with the fantastic students as I am.
I have had the privilege of serving as the College Possible senior coach at Franklin High School for the past four months. In my day-to-day role, I work with a cohort of 32 senior students, and I also help coach the girls soccer and basketball teams, which has given me the opportunity to get to know a greater portion of the Franklin student body.
From both my personal experience as a member of the Franklin community and from talking to students about their experiences, I can confidently say that Franklin is a place where so many students find comradery, support, friendship, mentorship, and so much more. This is a school that is full of both students and staff who are taking action to positively impact themselves and the greater community.
The College Possible seniors at Franklin have shown so much dedication to their goal of obtaining some form of post-secondary education. As of the beginning of December, 29 students have applied to at least one college or university, and many have applied to more. Twenty-five students have already been accepted to a two-year or-four-year college, and many have applied to – and even won – scholarships. This is on top of all of the other amazing things that they do at school and in the community. Franklin students are involved in clubs, sports, community service organizations, religious groups, internships, and much more.
I have been so impressed, day in and day out, by the Franklin students’ resilience, work ethic, optimism, and commitment to turning their college dreams into a reality. I am so honored and excited to be a part of their journey and to cheer them on throughout the rest of this year. Go Quakers!
If you know a Franklin student who could benefit from the support of a College Possible AmeriCorps coach, encourage them to apply online to our program today!
