As an Upward Bound mentor and tutor, Ben Nunez  aids  in all aspects of the organization.  My general responsibilities begin by carrying out all tasks and responsibilities delegated by the director, advisors, and administration which relate to the operation of the UB program.  To take the initiative in implementing and assisting with projects which contribute to the development of the academic program.  To keep the director and Advisors fully informed of any events or conditions which might affect a scholar or the UB program.  To serve as a communication link between the director and scholars and to communicate the needs of the staff to conduct constant self evaluation and keep work up to acceptable standards.  I must maintain my employment with UB as my top priority.  And to be familiar with all phases of the office operations






Applied Sociology Internship
Benjamin Nunez
To this point I find that my job with the Upward Bound is really interesting and enjoyable at the same time. 

While working at the Upward Bound, I have the opportunity to interact with fellow office workers and members of the community.  I also have the benefit of participating in formal, casual and professional conversation.  This experience will help to enhance my desire for improved quality in communication skills.  The clerical duties I will be performing will help increase my knowledge of basic office functions.

  In order to monitor my self-progress throughout the internship process, Ben plans to keep a journal of weekly events.  By writing down situations, decisions, concerns and achievements, I will have a visible record of my progress.  This will enable me to reflect, reevaluate my overall progress, and to identify the areas that need improvement.  Ben expects, when the internship experience is complete, he will be able to see a change in himself.  His entire college experience, all of the learning, growing and changing, will culminate in this one last semester.  As an intern at Upward Bound, Ben intends to pair his previous coursework with his own life experience in order to give something to both the organization and the community.  Ben expects that the internship experience will be one that is mutually beneficial to his and to the organization as a whole.

After appropriate training, Ben will be given primary responsibility for mentoring and tutoring assigned Upward Bound scholars.  Ben used his knowledge of symbolic Interactionism through Herbert Blumer’s three premises meaning, language, and thought for this project.  Specifically, he used Herbert Blumer’s view of Human Agency which is human ability to make a meaningful choice or having the capacity to decide how to respond to others; as it relates to the Upward Bound scholars through the obstacles that these scholars face. 

Ben intends to learn and experience a great deal during his internship.  I am eager to gain experience in a “real world” job setting, which I can use in possible future career endeavors.  Improvement on my communication skills (written and oral), in an effort to prepare me for, and gain experience in, such situations is yet another objective that I will be striving toward this semester.  I am anxious for the opportunity to learn more about the organization, to get involved with its various activities, and to discover the impact the organization has on the families within the community.

At this point in my internship I have decided to continue with my education.  I plan on  attending Texas State University-San Marcos Graduate  Program.   I feel that  my involvment with the upward bound has given me the passion to continue my education.  My plans are to achieve a Master's of Science in Applied Sociology with a minor in counseling.  Then my long term goals would be to attain a  Professional Counselor Job with a Dallas County Community College.  And then ultimately achieveing my Ph.D...