If you didn’t know already Mr. Poole is a medical terminology and sports medicine teacher here at Ripon High, and he recently just took his sports medicine, two class, on a trip to the University of the Pacific. He decided to take his students here to get to know and understand what college is like so they can get an idea of what direction they would want to go in for the future.

“Visiting a college in person can help you to form your own impressions rather than relying on what somebody else has to say about the campus. Speaking to students and professors, exploring the facilities within and outside the campus, to getting a taste of the dorm life and food. All of these experiences will help you make an informed decision of whether or not that college is a good fit for you,” says Poole.

During the trip, they were able to experience the Health, Exercise, and Sports Science Department which showed the students how movement-based physical activities, exercise, and sports contribute to the quality of human life.

According to Drew Peters, a junior, they also toured many other educational departments.

“We got to tour the different health departments such as the physical therapy department and the athletic trainer’s department where we learned how to use the new technologies and equipment,” she says.

The trip to UOP opened eyes for many of Mr. Poole’s students just after a day of exploring the campus. They got an idea of how much it takes, whether or not they want to attend college, and even what they want to do with their lives during this experience. 

“The purpose of the trip for me personally was so we could see what life after high school is gonna be like and what it takes to make it after high school. I think it showed us that getting into the medical field and sports medicine after high school requires work, passion, and dedication and without these things, we won’t make it,” says Joselin Figueroa, junior.

Figueroa is just one example of a student who realized what she needed to do to be able to achieve what she wants. She now knows how to be prepared and how to look for a school that suits her and her goals.

“College tours allow students to ask questions, meet other prospective students, and understand the college on a deeper level. How you feel about schools once you visit in person may affect the direction your college search and application process take.  A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college,” states Poole.

Poole’s main goal of the trip was to allow his students to get a feel for college especially going into the medical field. He wanted to help his students have an idea of what they do or do not want to do with their lives, and with this experience, he achieved his goal.

“It was just an awakening for me to see how much time and effort I need to put in in order to achieve my goals,” said Figueroa.