Students Share Their Experience at GEAR UP U!

June 2010

This summer, West Virginia GEAR UP and Concord University hosted the first GEAR UP U! summer academy, a four-day college experience at Concord University in Athens. Seventy-nine students attended the academy, where they took classes, lived in the dorms and met students from across the state. Two students wrote about their experience - check out their letters below.

From Victoria Altizer, Road Branch Middle School:
GEAR UP U! was so much fun. I think it is a valuable, interesting, and enjoyable time for any student in GEAR UP.

At GEAR UP U!, students attend Concord for four days. The first day when you arrive at Concord, students may become a little nervous. I know my stomach was filled with butterflies. However, after you make some new friends, figure out how to navigate through the campus, and hang out with the counselors for a while, you will feel right at home.

On the second, we had to start classes. I know, it sounds boring and terrifying, but it isn’t. I was dreading my classes, but now, I know it was one of my favorite times of the day. The teachers are nice, patient, and understanding people who will help you with any of your work. The teachers also tried to make their classes amusing to everyone. My favorite class was my elective, communications. Also on the second day we had some really fun group activities.

The third day was a lot like the second day, but with new activities. Camp was always filled with surprises.

The fourth day, is still a mystery, but I know the end of GEAR UP U! will come out with a bang, because a camp as awesome as this one has to have a memorable end.

From Sarah Littlejohn, Summers Middle School:
GEAR UP U! Summer Camp at Concord University has been a tremendous help with my knowledge of various financial aid options, scholarships, and how it would be to be a student here at Concord. While also being helpful, it has also been a blast. I’ve met so many people that it’s just mind-boggling with the opportunities presented to me.

Every teenager dreams at some point in time about his or her later life. We now have gained some insight as to how to reach those goals, and grasp them in our hands. We know it may take a while, but it is worth the time and effort.

Also, we have been handed a mental manual on how to grin and bear it through high school, college, and adult life. Experiences and maturity are a necessity in everyone’s life, and we understand this.

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