College Dreams 101

My Students

My students are facing some daunting obstacles that will be difficult to overcome and continue their quest for a college-bound future. Inspiration from real life examples of those that have faced and conquered the same difficult obstacles may empower them to keep their college dreams alive.

Our school is an urban, public middle school in New York state with very typical levels of poverty,low achievement rates and the usual struggles facing inner-city students(low test scores,high drop-out rates,low graduation rates,parents that are struggling,etc.)Our kids need to hear and see biographical, inspiring stories of African-Americans that have overcome obstacles and become all they dream of becoming.

Our AVID class is a team of encouragers for each other. We want them to know the goals of their friends in class and support each other toward that end.

My Project

The Pact-is a true story of the power of friendship and teamwork and beating the odds. To have a classroom set of these autobiographies would allow guided reading during the college-bound research unit we are doing. The story of three minority students,growing up in the streets of Newark,NJ-facing poverty,broken homes,drugs,even jail. These men are doctors today and they tell their story of making 'the pact' to support each other through the long,hard road until they became doctors. These men are still friends today and all three are doctors. They inspire children that they too can beat the odds. This is a dramatic,first-hand narrative detailing how each doctor managed to rise above the ills in their environment to then look back and inspire the next generation to do the same - to never give up and give support to your friends to do the same. "It is difficult it is not impossible!"is one of our classroom mantras and we believe it!

Your donation can put a true story in the hands of kids that will inspire them to look to their future and imagine themselves as successful, college-bound students.

To empower children to see themselves overcoming the odds could be the 'changepoint' for a culture, one person at a time. We hope to use this book to spur on the college-going culture in our school and to continue the study of current Black History month scholars. We want to thank you in advance for your support of our students!