April's Communities In Schools is about a growing Curtis Middle School in Wichita. It's not the population that's growing; it's plants, and the minds. It's the time of year when things start growing. And in the case of some Curtis Middle School eighth graders, growing up. A plant captures that symbolism perfectly.
"I kind of see it as my future," said Akia Sutton. "You see the plant, it starts off small. And it starts to build and grow and it gets higher and higher. So I'm thinking, as we go into 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, and then we graduate and we're onto college -- it's like starting all over again."
Yes, that's right. These Curtis Middle Schoolers are already thinking about college. You can thank their teachers for planting that seed.
"Beyond middle school is high school," said site coordinator Aja Jenkins. "Beyond high school is college - which is only four years away. And when you think in terms of time, that's not a lot of time."
And colleges already have their eyes on these students.
"We have to start thinking now about where we're going tomorrow," said Stephanie Haynes of Wichita State.
Today, WSU has an entire program devoted to inspire middle schoolers, and get them thinking about college.
"They are our future," said Haynes of the middle schoolers. "They're our future doctors, they're our future veterinarians, they're our future teachers, and if you don't start thinking about your future now... When do you start thinking about your future?"
And for these students --- it looks like their future is taking root.
