Most sixth graders may not be thinking seriously about whether or not they’ll go to college, or what they want to be when they grow up. But the fact of the matter is, this is the perfect time to get them engaged in that conversation. They will soon move on to high school, where they’ll need to make choices in which classes to take for college preparation. The attitudes and study habits they develop in middle school years are likely to have an influence on them for the rest of their academic careers. Seeing a positive future for themselves, “dreaming big,” and setting goals are all keys to their success.

Our “Dream Big” poster, sponsored by the UA College Savings Plan, encourages students to do just that. Begun in 2007, it is mailed to sixth grade students and classrooms each year. In addition, a letter is sent to parents of the students, encouraging them to let the poster be a conversation-starter about future goals and how to get there.

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