Friday, July 10, 2009

My Brown Journey

When I first got to Brown two weeks ago I was so nervous, I didn't know what to do with myself. I was fresh off the plane, didn't know to much about the area, and really didn't have no one to talk to besides the other kids in ILC, who I never hung out with. Then when I got to my dorm it was so scary because no one was there not even my RA, the whole building seemed empty. I was so ready to go home but the next day came and that's when everything started happening. The next day was when everybody started showing up and I got to meet new friends. As the week went on I started embracing all new ideas from so many different sides, I became more responsible, and a better leader.



I think my class was the best class at Brown this summer because we had so much fun learning about the Civil Rights Movement whether it was through song, class discussions, speakers we had come to our class, or the documentaries we watched. I would talk about all the incredible things Ive learned but you've all heard it from my other blogs. Overall it was a great class thanks to Branice and Kristain who were my teachers.





From this pre-college program I found out my strenghts,weaknesses, and what type of leader I am. And with this information I plan to apply it to my action plan which is a Big Sister program. I will work with girls from the ages of 10-14 years. And I will help them with their homework,teach them manners, take them to nice placess, and make sure I spend a lot of quality time with them. The program will be based out of my church, Great St.Paul Missionary Baptists Church in Oakland,Ca. As I start to expand in my program I'm going to get some of my friends to help me and two girls will be assigned to each mentor. Then we will meet at least twice a month to do an update of every girl and just have girl talk. I'm going to try to get the program up and going by the end of the year.



Before I go I want to say thank you to ILC and all the sponsors because without you guys none of this would have been possible. And you really touched and inspired my life.



THANK YOU

-Tiffany Carter

3 comments:

Charles Tillman Ramsey said...

No thank you. I am glad that you had a wonderful time. Like Yueming Wang who went to Cornell this summer, you get another year of the Ivy League Connection. Since you are just going into your Junior year at Pinole Valley High School we get a chance to have you grace our presence, either back at Brown or at one of our other Ivy League School Partners.

Tiffany it has been a pleasure to read your posts and to hear your happiness at being in Providence. I hope that you are having a great time with everyone tonight.

I also look forward to coming to Church and seeing how your project is going. Just call me up and I will make sure that I bring my kids and the family.

See you next year and go Spartans!

Charles T. Ramsey, Esq.
School Board Member
West Contra Costa
Unified School District

Madeline Kronenberg said...

Tiffany,

I am so happy to have read your plans in of starting your own program at your church. This really is how to "pay it forward" -- and I am proud of you for not "waiting til later" to do that -- but creating a way for you to do it right now.

The class really did have an impact on you -- for now you are a true Leader. I am glad you enjoyed the class and found it inspriring.

I look forward to continuing to work with you this year and next summer. Keep us informed about your Big Sisters Program -- and let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Happy traveling home (at least you're not leaving at 2:45 am!)

Don Gosney said...

Tiffany,

A worthy and ambitious Action Plan. Brava, Tiffany.

For the most part, what you have right now is an idea. What will prove your leadership skills, though, is when you come up with an actual plan to turn your ideas into reality. You need to formulate specific tasks that need to be done, determine who it will be that will be responsible for these tasks, come up with a timetable and then stand back to watch it all come together.

I look forward to hearing back from you in 6 months so you can give us an update.