Youth introduced to college

JESSICA ALCOCER
THE SIGNAL

Thirty students from Clear Brook High School attended UHCL Tuesday, Feb. 25, as part of “Bring A Child to College Day,” a new program introduced this semester by the Black Students Association (BSA).

Modeled after the nationally known “Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day,” the goal of this program is to familiarize a group of underperforming high school students, who would typically not consider higher learning an option, with the idea of college.

“Education has a liberating affect on people,” said BSA member and project lead Randon Taylor. “I believe it is our duty, as educated persons, to ensure that our fellow men and women have access to the same educational resources that those who are privileged in society enjoy. Simply put, we’re opening a door for students to the idea of higher education by acting as a bridge for them from high school to college.”

The Clear Brook students who participated in Bring A Child to College Day (BCTC) attended several events on campus accompanied by their assigned mentors. The high school students also experienced a college classroom by sitting in on pre-arranged classes for an hour. The remainder of the program included breakfast and lunch, a tour of UHCL, and attending a Student Government Association (SGA) meeting. They also had the opportunity to speak with administrators and staff, as well as gain information on admissions and financial aid.

Clear Brook freshman Michael Loughman says he considered college before but was not entirely positive about attending.

“I thought about it, but I was never really sure if I could, what I would want to major in, or what I would want to study,” Loughman said. “I’m thinking about music or psychology.”

Nancy Gwinn, psychology major, was one of the assigned mentors who escorted the high school students around campus.

“I think it is invaluable; it gives them a taste of what being in a college classroom is like,” Gwinn said. “It gives them an idea of encouragement and gives them a chance to ask questions that they might have about going to college before they actually have to start planning that whole idea out.”

The Clear Brook students were also encouraged to write about their experiences at UHCL as a grade-enhancing assignment.

“We are hoping that once they have this exposure to our beautiful campus and student leaders, faculty, administrators and staff that they might not only consider attending college, but that UHCL will be their college of choice since we will be expanding in Fall 2014 to include freshmen,” said Joyce Delores Taylor, Alumni Association executive council chair. “If the students can leave our campus with a new idea of and attitude toward college and attending, and what the benefits are, then we will have achieved our goal.”

Clear Brook Principal Michele Staley said the students’ reactions from the event were positive.

“They loved it, some of them are thinking of college seriously for the first time,” Staley said. “They went yesterday and now they are not so scared, have help, and think that college is within their grasp. We are ever so grateful!”