An option that students have after they graduate, besides joining the military or taking a gap year to travel, involves attending a college. Whether it is in the community, in a different state, or even in a different country, each college includes different majors and different requirements to apply and get accepted. Some high school students take a class called Path, the district replacement of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), in order to prepare more for their futures ahead.

This year, Klein High opened a new path to college-readiness: The Path Kats Club (or Path Kats, or simply Path for short).

“The Path Kats Club is going to be a club that is similar to the class Path, which is a college readiness class to figure out what your interests are and where your interests will take you in terms of career and college choices,” said Path teacher and volleyball coach Monica Shallenberger. “Path is going to help with how to fill out college applications, getting community service so that you can beat out the next applicant, information about universities that you might not find in a normal setting, and making those connections now with other people who want to do community service.”

In comparison to other clubs revolving around community service, such as Earth Club and Interact, Path Kats takes on a different approach, instead relating not only to assisting the community, but also to college readiness.

“I wouldn’t say the center purpose is community service; it is an additional perk of being a part of the club,” said Shallenberger. “I would say it’s more of a plus to building a path to your future.”

Meetings have been taking place since Feb. 11; they will take place on the last Tuesday of every month. The club was originally going to begin in January, but it got pushed ahead due to the ice days. Nevertheless, Path Kats have been busy planning some activities to do for the community.

“We are going to be doing a Feed the Children event on March 8^th, the Woodlands Marathon on March 1^st, and food banks,” said Shallenberger. “There are ideas to also write letters to soldiers around the world.”

The next meeting for Path Kats is on Tuesday, Mar. 25 in room 331.