This is a CUNY-wide report for the SEEK program during the 1967-68 academic year.
“The SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge) Program began as a pre-baccalaureate program at The City College of New York in 1965. It was signed into law by the New York State legislature in 1966 as the City University’s higher education opportunity program in the senior colleges. The legislation was a result of the efforts of social activists and progressive politicians whose vision was to provide access to CUNY for economically disadvantaged students, then largely African-American and Puerto Rican, who graduated from high schools that had not prepared them for the rigors of college. Today there are eleven SEEK Programs across the University, one Program in each of the eight senior and three comprehensive colleges.”
So, it’s been about almost three weeks or so since my last post on heroes and purpose to be a hero. I have just started college, which is considered to be my pre-freshman year. Boy, do I have a rant for you.
College life has been told to be better than high school, but that’s just not true. I have experienced it enough to say that it’s just like high school. You are still split into groups, so instead of it being popular; you’re in a sorority/Greek life. You still find yourself being an outcast once people find your age or they stick with you and realize you’re the best that life has come by. (Because let’s face it, if you like someone it’s due to their personality, their mind. what they have to offer while receiving and you don’t care about looks but it’s an added bonus if you feel a certain way too.)
Some of the staff are super helpful! They like their job and they are down for the commitment of being said profession. Although, I’ve come across staff and professors that look down and talk as if you don’t know better, or in this case I should say I. Also, I had no problem letting them know that I knew what they were doing.
I’m in this program called SEEK, Search for Education Elevation and Knowledge, for anyone that wants a student’s point of view of how this program started and what it is now, here it is: it started for “under-valued” students that were of Hispanic, Black and Asian descent (which basically meant challenged). These kids didn’t have the right academic qualifications for admission but qualified to have special admission because there learning experience was not to criteria, didn’t have it financially, or they were “slow learners”.
I admit, I may not have had the best grades but they were there, also I didn’t see myself as slow. I know my worth and smarts but because I’m poor, I was or I’m at disadvantage. Then you have to add up the fact that I qualify for disability, which doesn’t help my case. Nowadays, you find every type of kid in the program and it has a bad reputation for being stereotyped as above yet we’re the highest in graduation rates, acceptances and grades.
Maybe it’s just the summer semester but it comes with a benefit of the doubt, I walk in with credits and get help for all of my major classes. This includes the College Now program which also allows you to have credits banked up to prevent you from taking them again. Plus I get money to help me financially on top of the federal-aid.
Now, here’s the CF part. The disability services really help if I’m ever out and need help to catch up, extra time on an exam, etc. Besides that, the school can have multiple documents stating that Cystic Fibrosis is a terminal disease that gets the disability help and I won’t get kicked out because of something I couldn’t control so they need to consult with me first before doing something permanent.
It’s hard to make friends because of the coughing but once they learn; it’s more easier and accepting. In this aspect, that’s what makes college a little bit better than high school. My health has been fluctuating but I think I’m okay, nothing but more meds can’t fix but my mental health has been off the walls. Keep in contact with both, one can destroy another! Take advantage of what your college offers because maybe in the long run it’ll pay off (plus, this is a gentle reminder for myself not to shy away from these opportunities as well).
Summary: college is nothing different; expectations should be more or less the same of yourself if you want to succeed and if not make them.
