Preparing for College through Upward Bound
Ismael Marquez
Mayfield High School 2010
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Ismael Marquez (far right) with fellow Upward Bound student camping at Mesa Verde National Park, near Durango, Colorado
This summer has been a blast for me! I am in a College Preparation Program called Upward Bound. It is a program based out of NMSU (New Mexico State University) located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Through this program, I am exposed to, and learn about several universities and colleges around the United States. I was accepted into the program my freshman year and have enjoyed the activities that I have done ever since. During the summer, Upward Bound offers a six-week program in which you are able to stay in the dorms and live the “college life.” Last summer I participated in the program at NMSU, and it was a real eye opener. This program really emphasizes the need to manage your time with classes, sleep, and homework. It’s pretty hectic, but it can prepare you at an early age for the real struggles which will have to be faced in college.
Upward Bound student enjoy the snow in the Colorado Mountains
This year, I spent time in Trinidad, Colorado at a less populated college named Trinidad State Junior College. Wow! I never stopped moving from the first day I arrived. From the classes that they offer, to the educational field trips that are both entertaining and educational, the program is terrific. We went on a field trip to Denver, Colorado, to the University of Colorado Health and Science Center. I had a great time and still have two more years to enjoy the extra push. Through the programs that I have been in, I feel that I am getting to the stage where I will finally be ready for college. I have filled out the FAFSA for practice and have even started signing up for scholarships. I don’t want to struggle when I get to the point where I have to pay for school out of my pocket.
It is a big help to start early and to get acquainted with what is required at the level of higher education. I owe the biggest thanks to Upward Bound both from New Mexico State and Trinidad State. These programs have served as a tool to further my intellectual knowledge, and I hope to accomplish my life goals with this added value.
For more information on the Upward Bound Program, please visit the website.