Torch Scholars Program

Hello from Australia

It is beyond hard to believe that I am already halfway done with my study abroad semester at Bond University in Australia. My experience thus far has been amazingly indescribable and more than I ever expected. Although school has been definitely challenging, I absolutely love my classes, students and the professors. It has been truly a wonderful journey thus far.

 

Over the time here I have met some interesting people, and made some amazing friends. I enjoy learning about a different culture, and stepping out of my comfort zone to try new things. One of the many great things about studying at Bond University is the fact that they put on so many events that it becomes impossible to get bored; it rather seems as if there are not enough hours in the day. After a long week of classes, there is nothing greater than the beautiful weather and spending a day in town, at the beach, taking random trips, or going somewhere with Bond University Exploration Club and my friends. One of my trips recently included exploring the city of Byron Bay, ocean kayaking and snorkeling near the most easterly point. The scenery was definitely breath- taking, and the whole experience was absolutely amazing.

 

Soon, I will be exploring Sydney, Great Barrier Reef, and Melbourne to name few places, where I plan on scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, hiking and of course surfing.  However, before I can have any fun, I shall go back to library and to do more research, write some papers and study for the midterms. I will update everyone again real soon about the wonderful life on the Gold Coast!!!

"Quite a Journey:" 79 Days Until Graduation

Hey all!

    My name is Ana Hidalgo and I am a part of the dazzling first class of Torch Scholars! So this is my LAST semester here at Northeastern University! YAY!! It has been quite a journey from being here the summer of 2006. It has been an unbelievable experience and I feel old because it is now time for me to move on…(bittersweet)! I’m currently extremely busy with classes (trying to make Dean’s list one last time!), work, mentoring along with other community service projects, and of course trying to find a job for the fall of this year. I’m majoring in Psychology with a minor in Latino(a), Latin American and Caribbean Studies. I intend on going to grad school in a year or two, but for now I would like to teach. I have an interview soon at a school in Newton to be a pre-school teacher in a Bilingual setting. So I am in the process of getting my EEC certification (Early Education & Care Certification). To obtain certification, you need to have a certain amount experience, plus you must fulfill different course requirements. Luckily for me, I was able to get all this through the co-op I did here at NU (which is also how I decided how I wanted to teach for a while).  Well, this is all for now! I have to complete an assignment for my Latin American Society & Development class and then head to work!

P.S. Only 79 DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION!! J

Torch Selection Update

We are so excited to be in the midst of the selection process again for Torch. Our Selection Committee is busy reading about our nominees this year and getting to know the students through their essays, applications, letters of recommendation, and Torch nominations. We are lucky to have received 500 nominations this year for Torch, and now the rigorous work of selection begins. We want to thank each nominator for taking the time to share with us their nominees for Torch. We are indebted to our nominators for advocating for their students and helping us to find our next class of Torch scholars by nominating students wit talent and potential for college persistence.

So, what happens next? I have talked with many Torch applicants, nominators, and counselors about the next step in the Torch selection process. Our Selection Committee will meet next week to select 40-45 students to be Finalists for Torch. Finalists participate in Interview Day on campus in March, where we spend the day with students, getting to know each student and his/her support figure. Students who are moving on to the next step in the process as Finalists will be notified by February 18.

I encourage all Torch nominees to check their email and NU Applicant Status check regularly. Also, nominees should make sure that all of their application materials (Official SAT /ACT scores, letters of recommendation, and transcripts) have been received by Northeastern.

This is an exciting time for all nominees as well as the Torch Program. Check back to the blog for updates. Nominees, keep up your good work senior year and keep looking for those scholarships and opportunities for next year. It's not easy work, but it will pay off in the longrun.

Jana McCarthy, Torch Director

Finding a Bridge to College: Thoughts on Education

My name is Yvette, and I am a Torch 4 freshman student from New York City currently pursuing a major in International Affairs. When I arrived this summer for my intensive Torch Summer immersion program, I didn’t quite know what intensive meant. Through Summer Immersion, I would be emotionally and academically challenged. However, with an “Advanced Regents Diploma,” my assumption was that I was clearly ready for college, as I had surpassed the NY State Department of Education standards. 

In the Torch intensive bridge program I had a rude wake up call. I was forced to deeply analyze where I had been the past four years of my life. I wondered how I could have gotten this far with such poor fundamentals. Eventually, I reached a theory. If we want low-income, first-generation college students to achieve and do well, the process needs to start early, and not just in charter schools.

Where along the process did I get lost? Where did my fellow elementary school peers get lost? I then broke my school experience apart. My elementary school’s first mistake was separating us apart after kindergarten. They put the gifted students with other gifted students and the “others” were left uninspired, without field trips but with constant comparisons to “inabilities” and “abilities”. Think about it: we were labeled as far back as kindergarten. My dad has always taught me that I wasn’t better than anyone else, so why was our system separating us? Why?

When high school came around, unfortunately, the schools that could meet my academic standards were few, and only the really gifted and talented could attend. I was trained to show the state that I knew the information, and then I forgot about it afterwards. Some of my peers assumed a 55% on a state exam (of which its standards lowered each year) was worthy of high school. We were left on the sidelines with gaps.

Luckily, my strong fundamentals acquired in “gifted” programs in middle school gave me the essentials of success. The process taught me curriculums for the “gifted” should be applied to everyone. Kindergarten is not a defining point. We should have all been taught to strive and dream. Inabilities should have been made into abilities. I know there are others who were left with gaps. Fortunately, I have found my bridge with Torch.