Since finishing [HS]2, I have completed a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Now I am working full time as a research coordinator at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. For the last year, I have been part of a team conducting a large, nationwide study of prostate cancer in African American men.
If you had asked me ten years ago what I was going to take away from a few summers in Colorado I would have expected a couple of good friends and some fun memories. It turns out I took away that and so much more. Now, ten years after first stepping foot on campus for [HS]2, I still consider my experience in the program as a major factor that led me down the path I am on today. Not only did the program provide the tools and opportunities to succeed academically throughout high school, but it also allowed me to explore a new region of the country, try out new extracurricular activities, and turn a group of complete strangers into a new family.
The most impactful component of the program for me was the college counseling course led by Betsy Bingham-Johns. My own high school did not have any formal college counseling program, but because of [HS]2 I did not miss out on learning important information such as how to determine the best fitting school for me, writing personal statements, and navigating the financial aid process as a low-income student. I still remember being intimidated hearing Betsy going over some of the best schools in the country and but then being comforted by her reassuring us that we were highly qualified to apply to those schools and to not sell ourselves short. Betsy’s course gave me the confidence to set high reaching goals for myself, not be afraid to take risks, and be comfortable bragging about my accomplishments; all of which were skills necessary for not only undergraduate and graduate school applications but also job applications when I was ready to join the workforce. I do not think I will ever forget my experience in [HS]2 as it helped mold me into the person I am today and for that, I am so grateful to the staff and donors who made it all possible.
Reprinted from the 2020 Annual Report