When I was in high school, towards the end of each school year I would see a handful of upperclassman enter our school’s conference room where members of the local press would be with cameras and credentials in their fedoras (okay, the second part might be stretching it). After asking around, I found out that this was for “signing day”.
It all started with a signing day for sports. High school athletes and graduates-to-be would file into a room where the high school version of a press conference was held and they would commit to the next four years of their lives.
This trend continued with students committing to universities, and then expanded when students were taking an alternate routes and were committing to careers right out of high school. Some schools have begun doing signing days for students entering trades, which is something that the military has been struggling to do – recruit younger members. Now, students who are joining the military are now getting a signing day too in some schools across the nation.
This is incredibly important because it not only shines a light on those who are choosing to serve their country, but it is also a solid reminder that college is not the only option after high school. There are different choices that students can make, and those should all be treated with respect.
In Robertsdale, Alabama, 28 Robertsdale High School students were highlighted last week for enlisting in the military. In that same week, four students at Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were also honored at the school’s inaugural Military Signing Day.
“We hope this inspires leaders to have the courage to recognize and celebrate all students’ skills, abilities, talents and post-secondary selections — not only the academically and athletically gifted,” Dario Sforza, the school principal and acting superintendent, told Fox News.
This furthers the conversation that not every student going through the rigors of high school fits into a specific mold, and they should be in an environment where they are able to weigh their options. It also allows all students who are taking big steps to advance their futures to be celebrated.
Image via Dario Sforza.
Staff Writer, Taylor Leddin is a publicist and freelance writer for a number of national outlets. She was featured on Thrive Global as a successful woman in journalism, and is the editor-in-chief of The Tidbit. Taylor resides in Chicago and has a Bachelor in Communication Studies from Illinois State University.
