In October we asked our students to share recent accomplishments. Here's what they had to say.

• Keishon got his first job working at McDonald's.

• Natalie decided to help out backstage (tech) for her school’s fall play.

• Sherly submitted both of her early college essays on time.

• Jailene was able to manage her time with everything without feeling stressed.

• Val was chosen as the varsity colorguard captain for her NJROTC unit.

• Nelsie founded a club, “Bring Change 2 Mind,” and is super excited!

• Abigail joined teen pep and is loving it.

• Evelin says, "I keep getting 100 on my statistics tests. This class is really hard and overwhelming but I'm proud of myself."

• Ashley says, "I took a few AP, dual enrollment, and community college classes which now have transferred to my college credits. I'm an entire semester ahead so by the Spring I'll be a sophomore (academically). I currently have a 3.9 GPA and this has served as motivation to keep going."

• and Jesus was selected for the National Hispanic Recognition Program. In order to be selected, students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher or score in the top 10% on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10. Sophomores and juniors are also eligible if they score a 3 or higher on two or more distinct AP Exams in the eligible exam periods.

We are SO PROUD of all of our students for what they've accomplished! 

During our October Full Group Meeting, our Junior Fellows, led by Program Resource Leader, Reka, and Graduate Social Work Intern, Ayana, discussed communication and professionalism. Check out this awesome clip of their conversation, including some of the Fellows identifying ways to use communication and professionalism to navigate a scenario that involves conflict.

Meet Reka, Our Program Resource Fellow

Reka is a graduate of Passaic High School and William Paterson University.

Melissa's Research into Dartmouth's Latinx History

Check out the amazing work that MTB College Student Leader Melissa Reyes has done to think about the history of Latinx students at Dartmouth College and efforts at equity and inclusion.

Melissa says, "It's so crucial and empowering to unveil Latinx voices at Dartmouth. As a Chicana feminist scholar, I find it inspiring to see the multiple routes Latinx students took when organizing in mutual solidarity. These students made it possible for me to walk on the same grounds they did.

By compiling this narrative, one recognizes the historic struggle Latinx alumni underwent in transforming Dartmouth into a place that they and future students deserve to occupy. Their struggles must be documented, acknowledged, and remembered."

Photo from a 1999 "Latinos at Dartmouth" brochure

According to this New York Times Opinion Piece, "Research has shown that when underrepresented students learn about their history and culture, they perform better academically and graduate at higher rates. When my students see themselves represented in readings, it leaves them empowered and curious to learn more."

23 Days of Giving!

On October 17th, we kicked off 23 Days of Giving in honor of our five MTB Fellows who will graduate from high school in June 2023 and embark on their journey to higher education.

For the 23 days leading up to National First-Generation Students Day on November 8th, we've been sharing sharing tips, words of inspiration and support, information, and resources to help first-generation students access and succeed in higher education.

Follow us and share our posts on social media! You never know who will benefit from seeing one of our posts and be informed or inspired by you and your work in MTB!

Coming Up Soon

We hope you will all be able to attend Ayana's Wellness Workshop in November! Please fill out the form to indicate which session you will attend.

Topic: “Self-Sabotaging - End the Cycle”

Goals, applications, presentations, scholarships, internships, QuestBridge: What comes to mind when you hear these words? What do you feel? Overwhelmed, stressed, maybe anxious? If so, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Sometimes the stress can cripple the optimism within us and cause self-sabotaging behaviors. We also display these behaviors when we feel like we’re not good enough, when we fear rejection, or even when we’re uninformed about a certain topic. As first-generation students, we endure different and often more complex struggles than non-first-generation students. This workshop's purpose is to encourage and uplift you. You’ll leave with the tools to recognize and fight self-sabotaging behaviors and the confidence to believe that you’re enough! 

• First Date Option: November 9th (Wednesday) 7:00pm-7:45pm
• Second Date Option: November 16th (Wednesday) 7:00pm-7:45pm
• Third Date Option: November 18th (Friday) 7:00pm-7:45pm

For Fellows: “Everything you need to know about college”

Thursday, November 10, 7-8pm, with MTB Board Member Ricardo Ortegón.

And don't forget - our next Full Group Meeting is Saturday, November 19, at 10 AM.

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