My name is Rik Napora, and I am the counselor for the students at Canyon Crest Academy whose last names begin with Ro-Z. I am so thrilled to be a part of our newest addition to the San Dieguito district, and I look forward to working with all of my students, parents, and the local community. Although I'll surely get to know all of you in the near future, I thought I'd give you a little background about me and where I'm from. I was raised in Western New York, and after a military stint I relocated to Phoenix, Arizona.  I worked a host of odd jobs that included Federal Law Enforcement,  bouncing at a nightclub, driving an armored truck, delivering waterbeds, teaching martial arts, personal training, repairing automobiles, building bicycles, and selling cars.

Although I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do with my life, I definitely knew what I DID NOT want to do. To embark on my search for a "better life," I enrolled at a local community college (HINT: community college is a viable option for students who don't go the four-year college route...and you save a TON of money).  I later transferred to Arizona State University, where I graduated magna cum laude and received a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English and a minor in Business).  I began teaching high school English at an alternative school in Scottsdale, where I worked with extremely at-risk kids who were in jeopardy of not only not graduating but also gaining an up-close view of the Arizona law enforcement process.

As I worked with my students, I soon realized that my desire to instill a love for the likes of Chaucer and Poe was eclipsed by my desire to help them with their social concerns. As I thought back to my high school years, and the counselor who basically steered me away from college, my career aspiration became crystal clear.  I applied to graduate school at Arizona State, and in 1996 I received my Master's in Counseling Psychology.

After my coursework was completed, including several internships, I was hired as a high school counselor in the Paradise Valley Unified District. I was responsible for not only 350 comprehensive high school students but also 125 at-risk students who attended our alternative program. Although I loved working with my kids, I could no longer bear the sweltering Arizona heat. I moved to Northern California, where I served as a counselor at both the middle and high school level. Shortly thereafter, I migrated further south and worked as a high school counselor in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz was a wonderful experience, but my position was only temporary. I soon accepted the position of Academic Advisor at Saratoga High School,  (located on the fringes of Silicon Valley), where I had the opportunity to serve as an academic advisor for some of the most high-achieving students in California. Although I was extremely happy with my job and my surroundings, the average home cost nearly a million dollars...so I applied to some fabulous districts in sunny San Diego.

Upon my arrival to San Diego, I joined the counseling staff at Torrey Pines High School. Between seven counselors, we provided counseling for approximately 3,400 students. Torrey Pines was an absolutely wonderful experience, and I have many fond memories of the amazing students, parents, staff, and the community in general. During my third year at Torrey Pines ('03-'04), I jumped at the chance to join a planning committee that had been formed for Canyon Crest. Based upon the description of the philosophy of the school, the administration who would be running the show, and the opportunity to create an awesome system from the ground up, I was sold. Fortunately, I was selected as a member of the planning team...and I was hired as the counselor for Canyon Crest several months thereafter.

So here I am! The San Dieguito district is a wonderful place, and I feel lucky to be here.  As a counselor, my goal is to guide students toward positive academic and social choices through information, motivation, support, and encouragement. The decisions students make in high school will surely affect the rest of their lives, and I hope to be a resource for them as they experience what should be a time of excitement and change. Please read on as I outline some resources that are always available to both students and parents.    

Advice

Students and parents alike often ask me "What should I be doing?" Fortunately, for both students and parents, there are some relatively simple  answers. In general, students should be challenging themselves with a rigorous yet MANAGEABLE selection of coursework designed to expand their horizons and to prepare them for life beyond high school. At the same time, they should balance their time between academics, a social life, and a healthy selection of hobbies and interests. Parents should be providing their students with encouragement, motivation, support, boundaries, and expectations that are high yet not unrealistic.

Study, do your homework, learn time management and organizational skills, consider a tutor, ask questions, learn to advocate for yourself, learn to cope with a teacher you don't like (trust me...there will be more if you go to college...and when you eventually get a job, you might even work for someone who made the teacher you didn't like seem like a birthday present...), and investigate your heartfelt interests. Remember this: People who get into professions that someone else selected for them (either directly or indirectly) are usually unhappy. Although it is completely normal to begin college without a concrete major, those students who at least have an idea of what they like (or even what they don't) tend to make more satisfying decisions in the long run.

Relax and be YOURSELF. Zillions of kids often frantically ask me what they SHOULD be doing for community service or volunteer work. Unfortunately, most of them ask only with the intention of one day documenting their often "manufactured" endeavors in a laundry-list format on a college application with the hope of getting in to the "best" universities. My opinion is that students should partake in activities and hobbies that they truly desire, activities that any college admissions office would recognize as genuine. College admissions personnel have read hundreds of thousands of applications, and they instantly recognize students who are individuals as well as students who pursued activities with the intention of filling in all the lines (the old "quality versus quantity" adage...particularly relevant in the college selection process).

Redefine "Choosing a college." Choosing a college or an alternative to college is a HUGE stress for kids and parents alike. Because the factors in the selection process are so varied and numerous, the most efficient way an educated decision can be made is to determine what is the best college FOR YOU.

Not everyone goes to college. There are many students who, for a variety of reasons, decide to pursue alternatives to a 4-year college after they graduate from high school. These choices include community college, trade or technical school, the military, specialized training programs, apprenticeships, the workforce, and a host of other opportunities. It is important to remember that, in the grand scheme of things, endeavors such as these can yield every bit as much or even more success than the "standard" university experience. If your student wants to pursue something other than college, at least agree to research the options and try to be objective.