2015-2016: Year in Review
My graduating high school class had one hundred students—all female, from Cincinnati, and with similar backgrounds. A short three months later, I was starting my first year at a university with over 40,000 students from over a hundred different countries. College is filled with new freedom, responsibilities, and tasks. This transition was daunting. Luckily, I was invited to join the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, or LSAMP, an organization that aims to increase underrepresented groups in the STEMM field. The program began in late June with a summer bridge program, Emerging Ethnic Engineers. I had little idea as to what to expect, however, deciding to take part in E3 was the most significant experience I’ve had.
The program began with an orientation where rules, regulations, and the overall schedule was laid out. We had strict curfews, mandatory study sessions, and a team of staff and students to ensure our success. Class ran from the morning into the evening. All the rules were all in the effort to reach the common goal of academic success and retention in minorities during their undergrad career.
Coming from an academically challenging high school, I did not believe E3 would be too difficult. However, the first week was an eye-opener. I failed quizzes as well as had low marks on my first paper. Trying to find my academic footing was difficult. My biggest struggle was in the subject of chemistry. I disliked the course, and my grades showed it. However, over the course of the seven weeks, I managed to make a change. I received one of the highest grades on my final papers and passed my finals, even chemistry. However, to achieve this I had to understand the importance of collaboration. Other members of my program helped me stay focused and gave input where it needed. I realized why there was emphasis on groups. Success of an individual is nowhere near as great as success of a team. This lesson carried through my academic career. I also reached out to my chemistry professor to figure a more effective way of studying. Together, he helped me find a way to appreciate chemistry. I learned how to change my outlook on things I dislike. This lesson was a huge boost during undergrad as I was sitting in lectures that were not of my interest.
E3 was an academic boot camp. It was exhausting, frustrating, and stressful. However, it was the greatest experience. I learned collaboration, had a strong base for my courses in the fall, and had a network of advisors and friends to see me through. I was given a strong foundation for my undergrad career. However, not everyone can have such an opportunity. My advice to incoming first years to any college is to be flexible. Bruce Lee said, “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” College is all about adapting without losing your integrity. Remain who you are but allow yourself to experience new friends, activities, and experiences. I had many great experiences my first year and met many amazing people. Moving into next year, I hope to foster those relationships. Much of the faculty I have met have so much to learn from. My goal is to grow these connections. I also hope to give back to my community. Volunteering at Children’s hospital as well as instructing gymnastics to young children at my work has shown me the importance of role models. The brain is most malleable at a young age, and I hope to continue working with young people to serve as a model and help them along the way. I plan to tutor and continue volunteering in Children’s hospital as I enter into my second year.
The program began with an orientation where rules, regulations, and the overall schedule was laid out. We had strict curfews, mandatory study sessions, and a team of staff and students to ensure our success. Class ran from the morning into the evening. All the rules were all in the effort to reach the common goal of academic success and retention in minorities during their undergrad career.
Coming from an academically challenging high school, I did not believe E3 would be too difficult. However, the first week was an eye-opener. I failed quizzes as well as had low marks on my first paper. Trying to find my academic footing was difficult. My biggest struggle was in the subject of chemistry. I disliked the course, and my grades showed it. However, over the course of the seven weeks, I managed to make a change. I received one of the highest grades on my final papers and passed my finals, even chemistry. However, to achieve this I had to understand the importance of collaboration. Other members of my program helped me stay focused and gave input where it needed. I realized why there was emphasis on groups. Success of an individual is nowhere near as great as success of a team. This lesson carried through my academic career. I also reached out to my chemistry professor to figure a more effective way of studying. Together, he helped me find a way to appreciate chemistry. I learned how to change my outlook on things I dislike. This lesson was a huge boost during undergrad as I was sitting in lectures that were not of my interest.
E3 was an academic boot camp. It was exhausting, frustrating, and stressful. However, it was the greatest experience. I learned collaboration, had a strong base for my courses in the fall, and had a network of advisors and friends to see me through. I was given a strong foundation for my undergrad career. However, not everyone can have such an opportunity. My advice to incoming first years to any college is to be flexible. Bruce Lee said, “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” College is all about adapting without losing your integrity. Remain who you are but allow yourself to experience new friends, activities, and experiences. I had many great experiences my first year and met many amazing people. Moving into next year, I hope to foster those relationships. Much of the faculty I have met have so much to learn from. My goal is to grow these connections. I also hope to give back to my community. Volunteering at Children’s hospital as well as instructing gymnastics to young children at my work has shown me the importance of role models. The brain is most malleable at a young age, and I hope to continue working with young people to serve as a model and help them along the way. I plan to tutor and continue volunteering in Children’s hospital as I enter into my second year.