Ashley Slupski Professional Portfolio

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Home > Youth Worker Experience > College Access and Success

College Access and Success

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My experience:

 

My interest in youth work stems from my personal experience as a public school student in Chicago. Many of my promising friends and classmates were unable to gather financial or personal support to gain college admission or succeed once they were enrolled. When I enrolled at DePauw University as a Posse Scholar, I further realized the struggle disadvantaged and low-income students face. I want to work toward eliminating those obstacles urban public school students face in higher education.

I have experience with college access and success programming through a variety of professional and volunteer experiences.

 

  • In January 2011 I served as a College and Career Programs Intern at Marwen, a non-profit that provides free studio art classes to under-served young people. During my internship I provided support to Marwen's College and Career Programs through several capacity building projects, including improving their database of Midwest colleges, researching academic and social support programs for first generation and low-income students, and providing recommendations for new university partnerships.

 

  • In September 2011, I began volunteering as a College Mentor with Chicago Professionals for Youth, a non-profit volunteer-driven organization that matches talented but under-resourced Chicago Public School students with young professionals who serve as mentors. I assist my Scholar with the college application and preparation process including brainstorming, reviewing essays, developing a best-fit college list, reviewing applications, assisting with resume development, and exploring career interests.

 

  • Also in September 2011, I began assisting with the Youth Leadership Program for 7th-12th grade students at Christopher House. The goal of the Youth Leadership program is to help low-income students overcome obstacles to success in order to achieve academic excellence and go on to post-secondary education. I provide general homework assistance, writing coaching, and support with post-secondary planning and application.

 

Through this experience I learned the following lessons and discovered my passion for increasing college access and success for students from marginalized communities.

I Believe:

My Interests

 

The gap in college-participation rates between students from well-resourced backgrounds and students from under-resourced communities is a fundamental problem of injustice. A young person’s access to and success in higher education should not be dictated by economic circumstance.

 

Many under-served high school students lack the resources, not the talent or drive, to enroll and succeed in college.  By providing under-served students with both the guidance and the basic tools necessary to compete effectively, we can dramatically improve their chances of attending and succeeding in college.

 

Holistic support ensures that students graduate and continue to

be leaders in their local and global communities. A comprehensive program includes post-secondary planning and advising, support and mentorship once students are enrolled, leadership opportunities, engagement on campus, social capital development, positive group and self-identity, and career exploration and development.

 

As youth workers and advocates, we should assist young people in deciding not only what college is the best fit for them but when it is best for them to attend college. We should fully support the young people who need to take time between high school and college to prepare for post-secondary education through gap year and college preparation programming.

 

College and universities over look some of the most talented and qualified young people because of their communities and schools. Connecting college and universities with these students will provide the colleges with the innovative, diverse leaders their campuses need to grow into 21st century multicultural learning institutions while providing students from under-represented communities with the knowledge and skills they seek for personal and community development.

 

 

  • Building a college-going culture

 

  • Making college admission and success possible for low-income students

 

  • Supporting resilient students with high rates of achievement and leadership in non-traditional ways

 

  • Guiding students through all of the often complicated and confusing aspects of preparing for college and overcoming common obstacles to remaining enrolled

 

  • Preparing first-generation college students to be competitive leaders in the classroom and community

 

  • Informing the ways that universities recruit and retain talented students

 

  • Reducing the transitional gap between high school and college

 

  • Helping students find and connect with existing resources available on their campuses and engage in their campus and community as leaders and change makers

 

  • Organizing workshops and events that develop professional skills and provide assistance in locating internships

 

  • Maintaining communication and offer services to alums

 

 

 
 

 
Author: Ashley Slupski
Last modified: 5/29/2012 7:05 AM (EDT)