Journey to College
Short Film + Activity
What This Is: A 12-minute video featuring six college students discussing their experiences in applying and transitioning to college + accompanying reflection activities.
When To Do It: At any point during the curriculum!
“Journey to College” is a short film by Estefania Rodriguez (UT-Austin Class of 2021) featuring six college students from around Texas talking about their own experiences in applying and transitioning to college. Estefania wrote, “They participated in this project with the hope of passing on their knowledge and advice and that other students might relate to or learn from their stories.”
Part 1: Before watching
Estefania says: “You may know exactly what your plan is: where you want to go to college, what you want to study, and what type of job you want to have. You may have no idea - you’re unsure about what opportunities are available to you, or what the best options are, or what you want. Wherever you are in this process, it is okay.”
Before watching “Journey to College,” take a moment to reflect about the college applications process.
- What are you excited about?
- What are you nervous about?
- What questions do you have?
You can free-write some responses to these questions and/or talk them over with another person.
Part 2: While You're Watching
Watch “Journey to College” now.
The video is not subtitled, but here is a transcript in case that’s helpful for you.
As you watch, think about these questions and jot down some thoughts -- or direct quotes from the students in the video -- in a chart like the one below:
- What resonates with you? What can you relate to?
- What surprises you?
Resonates with me / I can relate to . . .
Surprises me . . .
Part 3: After watching
Take a few minutes to journal or free-write some thoughts and responses regarding what was shared in the video (take this time to reflect and write by yourself even if you’re watching the video with other people).
If you’re in class or with someone else, talk through reactions to the video, referring to your notes from Parts I and II. End with this reflection:
What’s one thing you find especially helpful or want to make sure to remember from the video?
Final thought from Estefania, the filmmaker
“One part that I really loved was at the end, when Andre was talking about how college is an unknown, but within the unknown you find beautiful things. He said one of the beautiful things was that he started to get to know himself a little more everyday. As you go through this process, remember that it’s supposed to be more than just a journey through writing a college application essay. It’s also a journey to explore yourself and your story.”