With an intentional message of “to and through college” 17 colleges from the Wisconsin area came to impress upon scholars ‘college is an option.’ Coordinated by College Coach, Samantha Mewes, scholars found this mini college fair as an opportune time to follow up on completed college applications and selective scholarships as high school seniors.

For underclassmen, like sophomores, this fair became a sounding board for positioning themselves as quality candidates who have four semesters to ‘shape up’ and become stronger in their academics, focus on specific class courses that will increase their academic rapport in science, math, history, or English in accordance to a desired major. Scholar Yazmean, sat at the Mt. Mary table absorbing the real-world experience of Admissions Counselor Tyanna McClaurin who shared:

“I don’t expect you to know what you want to do at 15… I just want to know that you are curious about something and that you own every opportunity to learn more about you.”

Part of the college experience McClaurin explained is the idealism around discovery through service and volunteering. At Mount Mary University, accepted applicants have the ability to receive full scholarship based on grades and service to their community. The Caroline Scholars Program is a four-year scholarship program for freshman, full-time undergraduate, students with a passion for social justice. This highly selective program provides challenging academic work, leadership development, service learning opportunities and financial assistance that covers full tuition, room and board.

Needless to say, the ball rolled in scholar Yazmean’s corner to experience what she wanted to do by asking to serve others in the work field she was curios enough to dedicate an education and career.

The freshman buzzed around like bees to a fragrant flower, as their sole mission was sparking curiosity and learning how to utilized volunteering as an avenue to explore professions before considering a major of study. A teachable moment came unexpected when scholar Bryant asked, “What is the minimum GPA of students who are admitted to Marquette University?” when Upward Bound Math & Science Coordinator, Yvonne Reyes  challenged Scholar Bryant to consider how is he pushing himself to outperform his average.

Instilling the confidence of competing against yourself, first, allows scholars to consider their worth, while setting the precedent “be able to speak to your ability.” The ability to know your worth and be able to speak to how you've developed self-efficacy is most effective with helping others learn you, but also knowing why you compete in this world market; in addition to how your purpose can be met wherever you go. #WhatIveLearned

As the winter harshly coated the city streets with frost and chilled winds, I won’t say I was disappointed to get outside duty, just more anxious to stay inside to scoot scholars outside the building; however, on my second day out, the care and concern scholars modeled despite the cold, made me honored to blaze the cold with them.

Being an educator, I am always amazed at the compassion and discernment of students; especially given, as an adult, you are cultivated to be vigilantly overseeing the surroundings of students. Pacing 27th & Capital Drive to manage student traffic to city buses, I observed a crowd of students hovering over a slowly moving figure attempting to waddle across the street in the dead of traffic. Anticipating a harmful accident, a student swiftly grabbed the elderly man from being hit by an oncoming car.

Rushing over, I observed scholars Preston and Raheem were asking the elderly man if he needed help crossing the street. The man, with an inaudible voice, points to the other side and protests to go without crossing signals that had changed twice since him attempting to cross. Without thought the two scholars grab the arms of the elderly man on each side, to steady his walk, and began to wave traffic to help him cross the street.

Though it took ten minutes to safely walk the elderly man across the street and escort him to Wendy’s restaurant, my heart warmed to see a man over 70 years old confided in scholars 53 years his junior. The overall compassion created a society consciousness as well as one scholar iterated, “Ms. Cross, that man shouldn’t have to be out here alone. It’s to cold for him…” As I shared a few words with them both on elderly care, we walked away with a seed planted that social change happens with discerning the small things to change our part of the world. #WhatI'veLearned

"Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future."
                                                                                                             Nelson Mandela