Upward Bound: An Educational Program

The reasons I want to be in Upward Bound. I have heard so many great things about this program and would like to experience it for myself. I would like to show off my academics. They are good but I think that Upward Bound can help me take it to the next level. Also, show my extracurricular activities and how this program will benefit me.

There’s a saying that everyone’s said at least once in their lifetime, I’m sure. It’s so cliché, but now I know that there is so much truth behind it. “Believe in yourself.” Rather than giving up on yourself, use your failures to make you better. Learn how to bounce back from adversity and learn from those experiences. This is called using your growth mindset. According to Carol Dweck, research psychologist, in her book Mindset, “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” It wasn’t until the summer between my junior and senior year of high school that I learned this and of course I learned it the hard way. I had played club basketball for four summers in a row with the Longmont Rush basketball club. I loved the game of basketball and I had spent countless hours working on my skills on the court. I even wanted to play in college. I already had schools scouting me. Unfortunately, in my final season, just before my senior year, my biggest fear came true.

In the article, “Low-Income Students Seeking the Education They Need to Move Up,” Emily Yount writes about the way that poverty affects people entering higher education. In her story, a girl named Chelsea is a single mom trying to get her education, and the path is difficult for her. In this paper, I will discuss both my mother and Chelsea and show the ways that it is mainly the single moms that struggle the most in this society. Regardless if you’re rich or poor, your economic status always is important. A student’s economic status has a great impact and can affect her depending on the decisions she makes.

Being from El Paso Texas I always felt like there was more for me in other cities, but I never really got the chance to see what even my own state had to offer, but that all changed when I got accepted into Upward Math and Science. It gave me the push I needed in order to embark on my journey of becoming a well-rounded person. It gave me the real life experience I needed to determine if I would make it on my own when I go to college. Now I am able to see myself living far away from my parents which is something I cannot say for many of my peers. Upward bound also awakened something inside me. Before the program I was filled with self doubt when it came to many things, but spending my summer in Arlington with fellow students and mentors all

There are plenty of people who want to move up in life, work harder and put more time in to their future plans and goals. According to "The Pew Charitable Trust", they state, "84% of Americans have higher incomes than their parents had at the same age, and across all levels of the income distribution, this generation is doing better than the one before it" (W.C.I 124). What they are implying is that today's generation still struggles with what class they may be in, but they work to make a difference. Today's generation may still be stuck in the same class but they are progressively moving up. At the same time, it may seem as if they are moving up, but they still struggle with that concept. They continually think that they are moving up by working

The widening achievement gap contributed to inequality of wealth in the classroom is a topic that educators tackle on a daily basis. In his article The Widening Income Achievement Gap, Sean Reardon discusses how, historically, lower income students have not performed at the level of higher income students (Reardon, 2015). What causes this disparity in academic achievement? Is it simply access to money that gives students from higher income families a leg up when it comes to school or are there deeper, farther reaching contributing factors?

As a result of my Junior Achievement education, I have acquired knowledge about many things that will guide me through my life in the future, such as personal finance, world-wide issues, and decision making for the road ahead. I have learned how to manage my money by putting it into a savings account, keeping track of my income and spendings, and by spending money wisely. I have also learned about the decisions I will have to make in my future such as if I want to attend college, what kind of career I would want to pursue, and other situations like paying taxes and saving up to purchase a house. Junior Achievement has given me the skills and knowledge that will help me succeed in my life and many other things that I choose to do.

I should be selected for one of the Upward Bound Programs at West Virginia State University because neither of my parents attended college for more than four years. My mother is currently attending college to become a registered nurse (RN), but she has not attended college for more than four years. I should be selected because, while I may not be a low income family, I know that I will need financial support when I am attending college.

Although equality is an integral part the Constitution, it is not readily upheld. Specifically, education is a fundamental right which is far too often neglected, and therefore, a leading cause of poverty and inequality in the world today. The ACLU says, “The Constitution requires that all kids be given equal educational opportunity no matter what their race, ethnic background, religion, or sex, or whether they are rich or poor, citizen or noncitizen” (“Your Right). Without an education, one can not be expected to succeed. However, the positions that people are born into are hard to escape. These may include race, gender, and economic status. Because of this difficulty, many people get stuck in poverty and never become

After reviewing my data, I found that there was a modest increase in student achievement. There was a 6% increase in student scores from the pretest to the first quiz of the section. Although it is technology incomplete data because we have not finished the chapter, I feel that this is a good start. I believe this came from two areas. The first is that students were doing more hands on work which, in economics, is important for students to have a good understanding of the material and theories. The second reason is that I put in more time to better understand and teach these economic theories. Obviously, if I am better able to communicate the material to my students, they will have an easier time understanding it. Comparing last years SLO

Nanay (Mother), a 2009 testimonial play on verbatim research interview transcripts of Geraldine Pratt in collaboration with the Philippine Women Centre and Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance on Filipino Live-In Caregivers (LCP) of British Columbia, tells one story, among others, of a young woman who was left behind in the Philippines in the care f her father. Her monologue highlights her urge to drop out of high school, the conflict she has with her mother, and her compromised future. Though she was pursuing a university study in the Philippines, her education ambitions shrank in Canada. Rather, she completed a six-month medical assistant course because of its modest length and cost. Her story (hence the life experience of Filipino youth who

Not everyone has opportunity. Americans make it seem like we don’t have enough opportunities. When we actually have extra to spare. Witnessing the thousands of immigrants pouring into the US should tell you we have opportunity waiting.

Rattan, Savani, Chugh, and Dweck (2015) state that scientific research shows that students’ psychology-their “academic mindsets”-have a critical role in educational achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine whether culture can shape ones mindset and if so, how can that play a part in the academic classroom. The research was conducted in a large rural community, classified in Region 2 District 5 feeder pattern, within an intermediate school setting amongst 75 sixth grade students. The school is classified as a Title I school within North Texas and met standard for the Texas Education Agency’s 2015 State District and Campus Accountability Ratings. The population included both male and female and was chosen randomly due to access to the specific students. The data was collected through surveys that both the parent and student received and were identical in nature. Each survey was paired with a correlated number system to provide anonymousness. The study investigated growth vs. fixed mindset and how mindset can affect academic performance. The study found that

There are opportunities that are always available. However, it your responsibility to take advantage of those opportunities offered to you. They will never be handed to you.

Sport offers a way of helping young people to build their confidence and self-esteem, overcome behavioural issues and acquire life skills in a context more likely to appeal to those who are disenchanted with, or disengaged from school. It can also reduce involvement in crime and antisocial behaviour and improve attainment, particularly when combined with learning”.