In Chloe’s sophomore year, I
had heard about a program called the Ivy League Connection (ILC) and thought
that Chloe should definitely be a part of it during her Junior year (I didn’t
know it was offered to Sophomores). In the Winter Semester of her Junior year,
Chloe came home one day and told me she had missed out on her opportunity to
apply to the ILC program because she had not been invited to the informational
meeting. Our hearts sank, as it was something she was really looking forward
to. She tried gracefully and yet unsuccessfully to let it go, but then a new
opportunity arose. I had spoken to Chloe’s 8th grade math teacher, Ms. Nakahara, who was one of the ILC interviewers
about Chloe’s disappointment, she got in touch with Don Gosney and mentioned Chloe’s
situation, and we learned that a new program – the Social Justice Program at
the University of Pennsylvania – was being offered and that she could still
apply. It was a stroke of luck!!! Chloe got right on it, wrote her essays, was
interviewed and got in.
It sounds easy, but it wasn’t.
There are some who believe that the students who apply and go through this
process are subject to criticisms and held to expectations that are too high,
however, I believe the strenuousness actually helped Chloe understand the
brevity of this academic opportunity and what would be expected of her in a
college-level atmosphere. She began to scrutinize her actions knowing that
depending on them, doors to her future dreams could either open or close. The
leaders of the ILC enabled Chloe to be exposed to and embrace possibilities for
her future that she had not yet fully considered herself to be a part of. She
realized she needed to work hard, stay focused, and be determined to be chosen
and maintain her position. It is a program that opens the eyes of our students
here in the WCCUSD beyond their everyday reality. It inspires kids to reach
beyond their comfort zone and strive for something higher. The continued
expectation by the ILC of the students to communicate the experience through
blogging and to be representatives for the district also pushes our students to
publically share and keep up the momentum of all that they have learned and
gained from their experiences—to become a voice for opportunity.
Chloe’s experience in Professor
Lamas’ Social Justice Program has expanded her way of thinking. It has
furthered her ability to think critically about the world around her and to
take an active role in changing herself and her environment for the better. She
was in a class with 30 international students, studying under the guidance of
teachers from all over the world. She was exposed to world-wide issues of
poverty, racism, sexism, capitalism, amongst others and taught strategies by
which to analyze these issues locally and communicate solutions. The strategies
provided also encouraged her to question her own thinking and how she has
viewed and now views herself and her place in the world. The Social Justice
Program is an invaluable addition to the ILC as it enables our students to
actively find their voice and learn to interact in the communities in which
they and their families live.
I know a lot of hard work goes
into the ILC, and I am so grateful to all those who participate in creating and
maintaining this incredible opportunity for our students in the WCCUSD. Don,
Charles, and Madeline for spearheading the program, all of the interviewers for
taking the time out to care about our kids, Ian for being a fantastic
chaperone, the University of Pennsylvania and donors for sponsoring Chloe, and
Professor Lamas and Michael for providing incredible guidance and opening up
your hearts! Thank you all!!!
Sincerely,
Kai Weber (Chloe’s mom)
