Upward Bound at
Summer
2007 Staff and Scholars
Me with
my Creative Expression Group
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________Interning at Upward Bound has
been an amazing way to spend my summer! Upward Bound is a program
which provides first-generation students with the tools and guidance
necessary to successfully complete high school and continue on to
receive a college education. The program achieves success by
working with the students year round in three components: Academics,
Summer Residential, and Bridge. For my internship I was given the
opportunity to work with the agency as the Summer Coordinator for the
five week residential program. My position required that I
ensure that each day ran smoothly. This task included
everything from being the liasion between full-time program staff
and summer staff to getting groceries. Supervision of summer
residential staff and thirty-four students proved to be difficult at
times but provided my with many learning opportunities that I will
carry over into career. While working with my supervisor on the
summer class schedule it was decided that I would facilitate a Creative
Expression/Debate course for my individual project. Excited as I
was, this too proved to be challenging but a great learning
opportunity. I was given absolute freedom when it came to my
course and used the opportunity to focus on two difficult subjects,
self-identity and stereotypes. At the end of the five weeks each
student presented an original or adapted literary piece at the summer
banquet. Now that the residential program is over I am working on
a manuel that will be used in planning future Upward Bound summer
residential programs. The manuel will help in time management and
strategies for planning an effective summer program, it is a way to
increase communication among current staff and possible future
staff. Effective communication is an important factor in the
success of Upward Bound. The program utilizes several avenues of
communication including a Myspace page to keep students, parents, and
staff up-to-date. I am very grateful for the opportunity I
was given to work with the amazing staff of Upward Bound and the
students who I know one day will achieve greatness. Upward Bound
at Texas State has a full-time staff of five, so if you or someone you
know may be interested in volunteering your time and skills to an
amazing cause link on to their web page or contact
me via e-mail. After attaining my bachelor's degree I will
continue on to obtain a Master's of Social Work degree and look forward
to not only my future but that of the agency and our
students.
Texas State Sociology Department
Texas State Sociology Department