Hey Everyone!
After our awesome time in Washington D.C., I spent the next month being super busy with two pretty great summer programs that the Yale-Bridgeport Gear UP Partnership here in Connecticut worked hard to put together for our Gear UP members!
The first one included our 8th graders (rising 9th graders) at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT. This program was a 5-week long program that allowed all 8th graders from every middle school in Bridgeport to be apart of. These students would show up for breakfast, have a math and an english course to take and then take part in a MAAX (Maximizing Academic Achievement and eXcellence) course in which the gear up advisors would facilitate. This course taught life skills, ways to cope with certain academic and social issues people face, time management, and many other important and helpful tools. Then, towards the end of the day, the students had enrichment and team building activities to choose from. The purpose of this schedule was not only to get them a head start on how high school math and english courses would look like, but to provide support and resources from each other as well as the gear up staff.
Their transition from middle school to high school, as we all know, is a very vital and critical change that most students don't get to prepare for the way gear up students do! These students have received the advantage of touring their high schools, becoming familiar with their class schedules and classes, getting an understanding of the workload they will encounter, and get to meet fellow freshmen before the school year even starts. Oh, The things gear up does for higher education!
I had the pleasure to be apart of their experience and definitely utilized many skills that I learned in Washington, D.C. to help them feel motivated and prepared for high school. It was eye opening to have heard responses back from speaking with many students and asking them about their future goals and whether or not they wanted to go to college. Most of these students didn't have it in their plans to attend college. Towards the end of the program, the same questions were asked and the responses changed. These students got the chance to learn the importance of college and education in general and are now looking forward to their high school years.
The second program was very similar in format but it was planned for the 11th graders (rising 12th graders) in preparation for their transition from high school to college. This program took place at the University of Bridgeport and was a 3-week long program. I also had the pleasure of working with these students and providing the same support I did to the incoming freshmen. I will be working more closely with the seniors once the fall comes. My favorite part of this particular program had to be the 2 days training that the seniors received who signed up to be mentors to the incoming freshmen. They received training from the Mentoring Ignition Society on what a mentor is, how to effectively mentor, and were a part of team building activities that they will become professional at facilitating once the school year starts.
It has been truly amazing to be apart of so many important transitions in students' lives and witnessing growth, intellect, and motivation expand before my eyes. -- It has become my personal motivation to continue mentoring and growing with my students.
In the fall, I will be at Central High School helping students apply for college, applying for financial aid and scholarships, and continuing to mentor and tutor students who need it. I'm looking forward to National Gear UP Week which I will be helping plan come September. I think back to last fall when I was apart of many events that week and I'm very excited to do bigger and better things this week to honor the program, those individuals working hard to keep it going, and the students who do nothing but appreciate Gear UP and all that it does for them!
[keep shining bright leaders!]
Maysoun Chawiche
Connecticut
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