Upward Bound: Reflections on a summer spent at ETSU

ETSU was home to Upward Bound students during the month of June. 

At the age of two, my mother moved me from big city, Brooklyn, New York, to little ol' Johnson City for what she says was “better experiences and great opportunity.” I can truly guarantee you that’s exactly what the ETSU TRIO Upward Bound Program (UB) brought to me.

UB is a program that targets first-generation students who have the intention of attending college.The program gives local high school students the opportunity to try out the college experience and to ask current college students for advice. My love for UB has only grown since the start. Through UB I've learned as a first-generation student all the possibilities that are set up for me. I’ve made endless connections and friendships that have made me love the idea of meeting new people from different walks of life. I’ve been able to tour optional schools within close range of Johnson City. I’ve also kept up to date on where I should be on my road map toward college search and how to get there.

 

During her internship with ETSU Marketing and Communications, Trea'zur Cassidy created content that can be used on the university's news platforms. She recorded news podcasts and visited the ETSU Photography studio, where she learned editing techniques from UMC photographers.

One of the UB program’s many great opportunities is allowing students the experience of living on campus during the month of June, taking classes for their upcoming year, and awarding rising seniors like myself with internship opportunities.

My first summer at UB was a challenge. I battled on whether to stay home or go. My family and I had lost my sister to cancer just a few months before the summer program. I was scared to be away from home, and even though it was only a little under 20 minutes away, I couldn't face four weeks in a dorm. I questioned if I was really ready to see what college is like. My uncle, thankfully, had won me over with his stories of being in Upward Bound, long ago when he was on his way to college. He explained to me that in life you are meant to have experiences and make sacrifices that matter for the greater good toward your future. After hearing him talk about how much fun he had, I decided to dip my toes into this not quite, but somewhat new beginning that I'll never regret. That summer I won five awards, including “The Pump Master” plaque, which is an award given to a first-year student who displays the most enthusiasm in everything he or she does in Upward Bound. The award description itself states that “the recipient of this award is a hard worker, willing to try anything, and always has a positive attitude.” I was recognized for being myself and seen by friends and staff of UB. I like to think of myself as a positive addition to ETSU, even if I’m not quite enrolled yet. I am so thankful for this program and the opportunities it has brought me, including this very blog that I was encouraged to write during my internship with ETSU's Office of University Marketing and Communications. 

This internship has been such a great opportunity for me to get to know, adapt, and learn from the amazing team that works in communications at ETSU. UB has mentored, blessed, and shaped me to love myself and the people around me. The program has given me a voice and helped me to understand that I am seen and heard. It also helped me recognize my purpose to share my story as well as others. 

I’d like to thank the UB staff and all new and old RAs for their love and support of not just me but every student at UB. We are not just a program, but a family.

Learn more about Upward Bound.

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.