In 1964, Upward Bound emerged from the Economic Opportunity Act. In a time of limited access to education for those in poverty, the act aimed to provide education and the opportunity to work for these very same people. Upward Bound fits these guidelines by offering college assistance and high school tutoring services. These services are extended exclusively to students who have completed eighth grade and from low-income families or will be the first of their family to attend college. Upward Bound continues to complete this goal of the Economic Opportunity Act by adapting its programs in order to be successful.
I first heard about Upward Bound through my cousin, Jaevian. She had been in the program for three years and suggested that I applied. At first, I was skeptical about applying because I didn't know anything about the organization. The goal of Upward Bound and encouragement from my parents inspired me to finally apply. The application process included an essay, teacher recommendations, and an interview. The scariest of them all was the interview. I hate being interrogated because its like you’re in the hot seat. You also have to make sure you’re answering the person questions completely.
This was my first real interview so it was frightening. Dr. Jones, director of Upward Bound, interviewed me at the time. In my nervousness, she looked intimidating. When it was finally time to be interviewed, I was very apprehensive. I was in a room with my mom and Dr. Jones. My legs and arms were shaking frantically. I wanted it to be over as soon as possible. I didn’t know what types of questions Dr. Jones were going to ask me. I tried to answer the questions to the best of my ability because I really wanted to get into this program. I was so nervous that sometimes I would stumble over my words. Some of the questions I remember Dr. Jones asked was, “How would you be a great asset to Upward Bound?” or “What do you expect from Upward Bound?”
When the interview was over all the stress I was feeling was released. Now, I just had to wait on a call back to see if I was accepted. A few weeks later, I finally got the call. I was so nervous to pick up the phone because I didn’t know what she would say. When I picked up the phone, Dr. Jones said, “Synise, I am proud to say you have been officially accepted in Upward Bound!” I was overly excited and smiling from ear to ear. This program was going help me in some ways as far as schoolwork and grades.
On my first day of Upward Bound, I felt very welcomed. Everyone greeted me and I was treated like a family member. When I walked into the office, all the tutors were lined up ready to assist someone with their work. This made me excited because I knew someone was ready to help me with anything I needed work on. The tutors at Upward Bound are like your brothers and sisters. They are only a few years older than you and they can relate to you because they just graduated from high school 2-3 years ago.
In order to acquire more information about this institution, I interviewed Tulane University Upward Bound director April Rice about how she got involved in the organization. She said, “I moved to New Orleans and looked for an opportunity to help first generation students become college-ready graduates!” Her dedication to the program and cause inspired me. “I went back to school to get my graduate degree for the main purpose at helping students reach college,” she told me. Her aspiration to drive students in order to be more successful demonstrates the objective of better serving these students.
I also asked Rice about Upward Bound and its goals for students. Her answer was as follows: “We focus on giving you experiences and exposures to new opportunities you would not have without being a participant at Upward Bound.” Since being at Upward Bound I’ve gotten many exposures to different things. I’ve been on multiple college tours in Atlanta, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas.
Upward Bound plays a significant role in student’s lives. It not only prepares you for college but life in general. It helps you prepare for college by offering college tours, new opportunities and study skills. Most importantly, Upward Bound develops you into the person you are. It has changed over the years and is still in the making.
