I was pleased to be invited to stop by and meet Say Yes scholars attending our summer bridge programs for students who will be entering college this coming year. Stanley Simmons, coordinator of the Buffalo State College Say Yes Program, contacted me, because part of the orientation for Say Yes students is to have them meet some of the senior administrators on campus. I quickly had my staff make a few modifications to my schedule so that I could stop by and meet the members of our incoming class.
Kate Conway-Turner talks with our Say Yes summer bridge program scholars
Program coordinator Stanley Simmons talking with Say Yes students (photo courtesy WNED)
I was impressed by several things during my visit. It was heartening to hear how students were doing well in their summer classes and how motivated they are to do their very best at Buffalo State. It was equally notable to observe how after just a few weeks with Stan Simmons, students felt settled into the culture of campus life and poised to do well. They described how they were working together as teams, how they knew they might stumble but were dedicated to moving through any obstacles that might impede their success. They voiced an understanding of the importance of support from peers, faculty, and staff, and said they intend to utilize support on campus as needed. It was clear to me that they were starting college with a positive attitude and a can-do spirit.
Kate Conway-Turner and our incoming Say Yes students talk about life experiences
As students introduced themselves to me, several shared that they would be the first in their families to attend college. This was stated with pride but also with a sense of responsibility that they would become a model for siblings and family members at home. This recognition of the importance of education for not just themselves but also for their families is the fuel that has helped many students soar during their college years.
These students knew how to give a solid handshake and how to maintain appropriate eye contact as they conversed, and they showed a curiosity about the world around them. These are also good traits that will assist them as they move forward.
I forgot to mention this but over the summer I actually lived on campus and took summer classes! This experience was very enriching and I made a ton of friendships throughout my time being there. For any of you that may not know, this is a program offered by CSP (The Comprehensive Studies Program) through the university which makes it so that students from different backgrounds can attend the university. This is formally known as the “Summer Bridge Program”.
The Summer Bridge Program is a program offered for so many different reasons, you can either be someone who came from an under resourced high school who somehow made it to the top or even someone who is a division 1 athlete. The program has people from all different backgrounds.
When I first received my acceptance letter and it read that I was entering college in the Summer of 2015, I was anything but excited. I actually cried in my room for a couple hours because I felt like a disappointment. I felt like I was put in a program full of “dumb” kids who they want to succeed because of legacy. The case was anything but that.
I learned so much in the summer program, I am thankful that the university gave me the opportunity to grow over the course of seven weeks. I worked on my writing skills, and even learned how to create a blog, which is what led me to create this one in the first place!
My summer was fun fun fun, with some work involved too. I had a couple friends I was always with so we pretty much partied hard and studied harder. Loved my first taste of college life, it just made me more excited for the fall.
