A group of ninth graders from inner-city Boston got a glimpse of college life with a visit to Tufts on Friday with the Building Bridges class. The students from the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Chinatown, which is just a few blocks away from Tufts' Boston Campus, got a chance to see, test out, and literally taste, undergraduate life at Tufts.
The high school students spent the day on campus in small group discussions focused on encouraging them to pursue a college degree and discussing a college checklist to help them prepare. Throughout the day they ate in Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall and toured dorm rooms and the computer lab.
The event was organized by the twelve students in American Studies 192, Building Bridges. Junior Jennifer Ji described the day as a "side event" to the class. In addition to class work and volunteering, the AS192 students planned and organized the entire day for the students. Some of the Tufts students tutor at the Josiah Quincy Upper School as part of the class's weekly community service requirement.
"We go into their community, and this event is a chance for us to bring them into ours," said Emily Keifenheim, the Americorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) working in the Tufts Chinatown Partnership Office.
"We want to help them see that Tufts is not that far from the neighborhood and that Tufts, or a school like it, is an option for them," Keifenheim said.
The day's events also included a scavenger hunt and performances by members of the Ballroom Dance Team, who demonstrated several Latin dances and by members of Cheap Sox, who improvised skits based on college life.
"We wanted to give them a college perspective. A lot of them are first generation [immigrants] and have lots of family members who haven't been to college," Sophomore Loi To said.
The younger students responded positively to the day's activities. "I had a lot of fun learning about Tufts," ninth grade student Tammy said. "I never thought about going here before, but now I am."
Other students agreed. "I learned about sororities and RA's and dorms," said Tamesha, another ninth grader. "I would definitely think about coming here."
Tory, another ninth grader, however, said he didn't think Tufts was exactly right for him. "This campus seems pretty boring," he said. "I want to go to college, but not in the suburbs."
Student organizers still said the event was a success in allowing students to get a taste of campus life, and encouraging them to go to college. "When we asked the kids if they want to go to college, they all said 'Definitely.' That's what we're aiming for," Ji said
The event was sponsored by a number of offices and organizations, including the University College, the American Studies Department, Dean of the Undergraduate Experience, the Office of Community Relations, Dining Services, Hillel, the Latino Center, the Asian American Center, and the TCU Senate.
The course -- subtitled "Active Citizenship in an Urban Community: Race, Culture, Power, and Politics" -- is a joint effort between the American Studies Department and The University College of Citizenship and Public Service. The full-year, 1.5-credit class is taught by Professor Jean Wu.
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