One Month Till Liftoff

"This orientation is for all the details you forgot to tell your parents at dinner," a lighthearted Don joked as we kicked off our orientation at Lovonya Dejean Middle School on a gorgeous summer evening with a crimson sky. Monday night was the grand finale of all informational sessions (American Idol just ended, please forgive me), which marked our final opportunity to bombard Don with questions before our trip to Nashville. 

May was a month filled with proving calculus theorems, writing 10-page cross-cultural ethnographies, and directing Shakespearian tragedies. The conclusion of finals week at Contra Costa College commenced the beginning of summer break, kicking off the countdown to our time in Nashville. 30 days, 7 hours, and 14 minutes until we head to Vanderbilt and stimulate our minds with the course of our choosing. I am extremely excited to study programming and computer science at Vanderbilt this July. Although I attempt to satisfy my curiosity by self-studying online and tinkering with my computer at home, I have little academic exposure to the discipline itself. I know this course will further my interest in the ever-growing field.

Transportation was a difficult dilemma, as my younger brother coincidentally had an orientation on the same evening. Luckily my father took the night off, taking my brother and preparing my mother and I for a night with the ILC. My mother and I arrived at Lovonya Dejean Middle School at 5:47 PM, slightly early but eager to begin the information-packed evening. Entering the building, the cafeteria-style tables and chairs immediately caught my eye. Lovonya Dejean was a venue I was familiar with. From the months of school board meetings as a student representative, I was used to the rows of foldable chairs for the public. I thank the school for letting us use their multipurpose room and I appreciate Don for choosing Lovonya Dejean because of its central location within the school district, accommodating to all of our transportation needs.

My mom (she's blinking I swear) and I listen to Don's presentation

Don began the night by giving a short speech on the agenda for the evening. He later introduced Vanderbilt and UChicago chaperones, Ms. Sciacca and Mr. Hillyer, respectively. The chaperones introduced themselves and explained the history and purpose of the ILC. Mr. Hillyer mentioned the potential of the students in our school district and how the ILC bridges the achievement gap. Both chaperones shared their prior experience with the ILC and their years within the education system as a teacher. This definitely eased my mother's worries as a parent. Knowing that the chaperones have participated in the ILC before, provided reassurance that I would be in safe hands.

After the warm welcome, Don broke us off into our respective cohorts. We began by introducing ourselves and filling out our final permission slip. We were later briefed about future blogging assignments and the drafted itinerary of our stay. While we had previously discussed locations to visit during our stay, the itinerary reminded me of how much we had planned for the summer. Following the logistics, fellow ILC alumni were brought in to answer any questions that our parents and cohort had. Vanderbilt alumni, Evan Garrison and Jahnvi Doshi, shared reflections of their time in Vanderbilt and in their visit to Philidelphia. I found it relieving to hear the experiences of the students themselves. I was filled with burning questions ranging from the course load to the food itself. My mother also shared her concerns and was reassured by Ms. Sciacca and the alumni.

I gained insight into the many aspects of Vanderbilt Summer Academy. Hearing Evan discuss the freedom and establishment of trust between adults and students, allowed me to understand that this program was a genuine college experience. Jahnvi inspired our cohort to take advantage of all opportunities that come our way for the duration of our stay in Vanderbilt. Evan also shared his ability to wake up at 6 AM every morning to go on runs. I found this to be very exciting, being a runner myself.

Being a few weeks into summer vacation, this orientation served to be a testament to the fulfilling summer to come. Meeting the alumni and hearing from Don and the chaperones, eased many of the concerns and questions that my mother and I shared. One month till liftoff and all that's left to do is pack!