The keys to succeed are keyed in understanding social institutions that positively impact historically underrepresented populations who pursue post-secondary education. As 23 students journeyed to the state of Minnesota, college tours were intentionally organized to meet the needs of Milwaukee Collegiate Academy’s predominately first-generation college students. On this three-day, two-night excursion, students met with student groups and administrators that supported retention and baccalaureate completion; scholars enjoyed learning about majors from professors and students, learning life possibilities, and career paths of certain majors; as well as, experiencing student life within classroom settings. With four colleges to tour in two days, students unlocked doors of opportunity. Two-to-highlight:

Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC)
Uncovering a diamond in the ruff became the only comparable metaphor as students visited Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Dispelling the myths of community and technical colleges emphasized that “Anyone can afford college and smaller two year institutions can be stepping stones needed to build character and leverage academic support,” explained a SAAB member. SAAB or the Student African American Brotherhood, is a national organization with over 160 chapters. “ I am my brothers keeper and together we will rise,” was a resounding motto for academic support and cultural identity to empower members of the organization. As MCA Scholars explored the college, what made this visit unique was meeting a student organization whose presence supported social identity, academic excellence (2.5 to be an active member), cultural enrichment, personal development,  service learning and financial affairs. SAAS or the Student African American Sisterhood also shared nuggets of truth about the importance of creating academic opportunity vs. an academic gap by joining organizations as first-year college students.
         
Augsburg College
The biggest surprise came at the close of Augsburg’s college tour when one of the Health Sciences professor talked about Augsburg’s Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science Department. As a program rooted in kinesthetic learning, scholars were exposed to the varies routes of College Coaching, Physical Therapy, and Sports management opportunities one can have as it relates to health sciences.  Campus life became real, as Augsburg’s athletic department offered free tickets to its Division III men’s basketball game against University of Wisconsin-Superior. Scholars cheered and defended the almighty Auggies by chorally cheering, “Defense! Defense!” By increasing the look and feel of student activities, scholars were able to normalize student culture and school affinity.

Retention and Success
With statistical data informing college completion and performance, we know that 40% of college students will leave their post-secondary program without a degree (Porter, 1990), with 75% percent of such students leaving college, the data shows attrition happens within their first two years of college (Tinto, 1987).  By exposing scholars to Astin’s theory of Involvement, Tinto’s theory of Student Development, and Boyer’s theory of Community Development, through targeted college visit experiences; scholars are developing fundamental advantages needed to complete the MCA mission of “to and through college”. Scholars are learning how to thrive as course rigor increases, glancing at socio-emotional competencies needed to become an adult through student organizations and college experiences, as well as discovering what they did not know on career avenues at an early age. #WhatI'veLearned

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