Page 3 - CHANGING Winter 2018

The Bronx Institute at Lehman College • Bronx GEAR UP Network
www.TheBronxInstitute.org
AS yoUR FIRST yEAR oF hIGh School BEGInS, lET’S hEAR FRom GEAR UP STUDEnTS AnD GEAR UP AlUmnAE ABoUT ThEIR GEAR UP ExPERIEncE AnD why ThE PRoGRAm mEAnS So mUch To ThEm.
ERICA DEJESUS
Education Counselor at New World High School and former GEAR UP student
I believe GEAR UP is an important program because it not only supplements benefits that students aren’t receiving in their home schools, but it provides many different opportunities for them. When I was in GEAR UP, I took advantage of Saturday programming as well as the summer activities. I was able to experience what living on a college campus was like before I was an actual college student. One particularly fun event was going to a Broadway show. I took advantage of many of the opportunities GEAR UP provided, but it wasn’t just schoolwork that I benefited from. I also benefitted from the camaraderie I experienced with a group of people that weren’t going to the same school I was. It was great to be able to get together with those people on Saturdays and during the other programs, knowing that the people to the left and the right of me weren’t in the same place I was.
My advice to students going through high school would be to take advantage of every single opportunity that comes their way like the GEAR UP program. Focus on them and actively look for new ones. Prepare for your standardized tests by learning the format, getting a good night’s sleep, and making sure you know the material. Finally, learn to advocate for yourself. I always focus on teaching my students self-advocacy skills. Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Reach out for help when you need it. Always remember that you are not alone when facing challenges.
One of my own personal challenges I faced when I was still a high school student actually had to do with getting into college. When I finally got my college acceptance letter, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to afford going to that college. I went to my GEAR UP counselor for help and to go over my options. She gave me the idea to advocate for myself in order to get in. With her help, I wrote a letter to the school explaining my financial situation. I made sure to let them know how interested I was in their school and how much I wanted to go. In the end, that letter convinced them to give me the financial aid I needed to go.
No matter how hard it gets, persevering through the hard times and making it to college is definitely worth it. The outcome makes it worth it. Not only will you be more successful financially, but you benefit from being part of a community in college that you’ve never been part of before. It opens up your network and allows you to be a part of something greater. Education is the key to anything in life.
FATIMA NDIAYE
New World High School
I think GEAR UP is worth it because you get ahead of the people that don’t come to the program. For example, I’ve learned things here about the Civil Rights movement that my classmates won’t start learning until next year. Plus, it’s nice to have something to do over the summer instead of just sitting at home. When you don’t do anything all summer, you start to forget what you learned and you get so slow at things like writing. Here, you actually learn more than the other students, so you can start the new year prepared.
CRISTINA DEL ROSARIO
New World High School
GEAR UP has really helped me start preparing for college. Before I started the program, I only knew I wanted to studymedicine.Ididn’tknowhowtostartatall.AtGEARUP,Ilearnedhowthemedicalfieldwasdivided,including majors I didn’t even know existed. I also learned about credit requirements and what degrees you need to get into different fields. A tip I got was that it’s best to go in undeclared instead of going in with a major. That way, you can look around and see what really interests you before deciding.
3
The Bronx Institute Bronx GEAR UP Network