Ms. Ciara Vinson

Thanks to You, TRIO…
I will be attending Texas A&M University- Commerce in the fall of 2007, as a member of the Honor’s Program.

The wheels of life turn with a varying pace. Slowing but never halting, the wheels remain in the same direction in constant motion until there is a bump along the road or a curve is approached. The amount of bumps and curves is different in each path. The path taken is optional. Which path would you take?

The path I chose is what I would call easy street. In other words, there were some bumps and potholes along the way and some force behind the wheels, but I went around the biggest holes and never pushed past what was expected of me. There were times when I wanted to strive for more, but in the end I would just slow down to the same pace as before. Eventually, in the distance I saw a bright yellow sign warning one of a sharp curve, and another dull sign telling of an optional road straight ahead. The bright yellow sign was captivating and made me want to experience what it was warning me about. The sign motivated me, and I decided that it was time that I averted my normal path. Upon arriving to the curve, I watched others that were ahead of me and the things that they were accomplishing. I wanted to be a part of this group of people who were going beyond their means to obtain their goals and educational endeavors. This group was called Upward Bound.

Upward Bound is a pre-collegiate program that helps students of first generation and low income families. The program enlightened me. I realized that I did not dodge the potholes
because of a lack of effort or care; I dodged them because a lack of knowledge and confidence. I did not know how to utilize my tools or have the courage to get me past the
potholes, over bumps or uphill. My will has always been reasonably strong, and I like challenges, but I did not know how to challenge myself academically and was scared to ask how. Neither of my parents had graduated from a college or university. My mother did not even graduate from high school. My father did, but he died when I was a toddler.
Morally my mother supported me, but academically I had no guidance. Upward Bound was there to show me how to challenge myself and to show me the steps I would have to take to get into a post-secondary institution.

Education has always had a significant role in my life. I have always had a yearning for knowledge. It was my sincere desire to attend college. My dream was to make this desire a reality. Upward Bound paved the way. Not only did I not know what an ACT and a SAT are, my family had no money to pay for neither. I had no idea how to apply for scholarships, grants, loans or financial aid. Upward Bound told me what I would need to do and gave me funds and resources to do those things. They informed me about class ranks and grade point averages. Gradually, I was getting things done and challenging myself with AP classes. They did not just help me with school. They also help me build my character.

The program helped me to walk with my head held high. Before I was a member in this program, I had very low self-esteem. High school is very superficial, materialistic and pretentious. I was brainwashed into thinking that because I did not have material things that I had no value. Also, I was very modest about my accomplishments when I should not have been. Upward Bound helped me move past that with the character development classes. The character development classes were about self-discovery and self-acceptance. After every class, I discovered or implemented something new in my
life. The classes helped me to identify my flaws and strong points. I walked into the program a timid little girl, but I came out an outgoing young lady. I know that money and
material things do not define nor make a person. I am somebody regardless of how much I possess. Now, my wheels turn with a strong force.

The wheels of life turn with a varying pace. Slowing but never halting, the wheels remain in the same direction and in constant motion until there is a bump along the road or a
curve is approached. The amount of bumps and curves is different in each path. The path one takes is optional. The path I chose in Upward Bound was full of indentations and
potholes, and there were times I had to try a little harder than before. Ultimately, I was prepared for the journey I have traveled since Upward Bound, and I know I will be prepared for the journey to come. Which path will you take?