High school students have big dreams, but aren’t always sure what first step to take. Three MCC students hope to change that for 33 sophomores in the Academy of Law, Justice and Government at John Marshall High School.
Students Olga Colon, Yolanda Hopkins and Rasheeda Omar are providing the 10th graders with a first-hand look at college as part of a service-learning project called Students Helping Students (SHS). The college mentors are helping the high schoolers understand what to expect from college and what will be expected of them – in the hope they continue their education after high school.
The project includes workshops by the college students and visits to the Damon City Campus. On Tuesday, the high schoolers shadowed DCC peer leaders and the three service-learning students (see the April 13 article on page 3B or at democratandchronicle.com). “They’re seeing that college is a lot like high school,” says Omar, an aspiring teacher. “Like them, we go to class, we socialize. What’s different is the amount of work and how you handle it.”
At their first meeting about two months ago, the MCC students learned that almost all of the teenagers wanted to go to college, but were uncertain about what they need to be doing now and in their remaining high school years to make it happen. “They have such big dreams,” says Hopkins, a law and criminal justice major. “But they don’t know which way to go. That’s the focus of our program – the steps they need to take.”
For example, a workshop called “How Rich Do You Plan to Be?” examines the value of life and the value of education through small group activities, team-building exercises and discussion. “I had the students research those words – value, life, education – their definition and what those words mean to each of us,” says Hopkins, who is helping the students learn what they want out of life.
Other workshops include “50 Things You Need to Know About College,” an activity in creating a budget based on a college graduate’s income, and a mock orientation at Damon City Campus followed by a tour.
The program is part of service-learning, which combines civic engagement with academic coursework in a way that benefits both the student and the community. Each service project is tied to course curriculum and fills a community need that is defined by the participating organization. Students make the connections between course objectives and the service experience through journaling, small and large group discussion, portfolios, and reflection papers. This semester, about 500 MCC students in 26 courses are participating in service-learning.
The three mentoring students graduated from or attended city high schools and live in the city. They feel this gives them a special credibility with the younger students. “They listen to us because we understand the struggles they go through daily and because we’re volunteers – not professionals paid to talk to them,” says Hopkins.
“I didn’t have the big picture of the benefits of education when I was in high school or even when I came to college,” she says. “It’s so much more than monetary value. It’s about being a well-rounded member of society.”
Jack Hurley, coordinator of John Marshall’s Academy, looks forward to continuing the partnership with MCC. “It’s very valuable for our students.”
The college students are benefiting too. Omar, who has wanted to teach since she was in sixth grade, is gaining the confidence she’ll need to speak in front of a large group. “This program has allowed me to see that I have a voice and that I can educate the students through my personal and college life experiences,” she says.
For more information on service-learning, call Susan Bender at 262.1710.
Dianne E McConkey
Public Affairs
04/14/2005 |