A group of 30 Bronx high school sophomores and juniors recently traveled to Boston for a tour of three colleges and other adventures as they explored the city.
In a borough where just 26% of adults over age 25 have higher than a high school diploma, the Rise Leadership program students, under the nonprofit Oyate Group, jumped at the chance to visit Emerson College, Harvard University and Northeastern University on April 14 and 15.
The program emphasizes leadership in various arenas, including arts, civic engagement, advocacy, business and entrepreneurship and technology, according to Augustina Warton, director of programs for the nonprofit Oyate Group and creator of Rise Leadership.
Warton told the Bronx Times that the program helps students answer those tough “what are you going to do with your life” questions as they near the end of high school, guiding those who are college-bound through all their applications and helping them stick to a college process timeline for their late high school years.
Rise Leadership plans at least one major college tour in a different city each year — last year was Philadelphia — and they visit schools of varying sizes, concentrations and environments to find something that appeals to everyone, said Warton.
Andres Maldonado and Ethan Rodriguez, both juniors at the Academy for Scholarship and Entrepreneurship in Edenwald, joined the college tour for their first-ever trip to Boston.
In an interview with the Bronx Times, Maldonado said he enjoyed seeing a variety of colleges.
“It’s a good chance to immerse yourself in the world of colleges to see if maybe there’s a right fit for you, or maybe they have things you’re interested in,” he said.
Knowing that many people can’t afford college or have other obstacles, Maldonado said he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to “get the college experience that a lot of people aren’t able to get.”
Rodriguez, who said he plans to pursue acting and entertainment, wants to attend college even though it may not be an absolute requirement for his career path. “I really think it’d be a great experience for me to start somewhere new and to try to build a life for myself.”
Maldonado and Rodriguez said they loved learning the history of all three schools — especially Harvard, the oldest university in the country — but they were most drawn to Emerson College, a small private liberal arts school of about 4,500 students.
Maldonado said that the campus had a great environment, and the students who met the group seemed happy and successful with “nothing but praises for the college and the lineage behind it.”
“The energy over there was immaculate,” agreed Rodriguez. “It seemed like everyone was genuinely happy to be there.”
Rodriguez said visiting Harvard was also “a joyful experience” and, knowing how selective it is, “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to even step foot into Harvard.”
Aside from the college visits, he said he loved seeing Boston and getting a feel for everyday life in a different city.
The Rise Leadership program has helped foster that sense of adventure and “gives me a chance to really step out of my comfort zone” as a shy person, said Rodriguez. “Here, I feel like I’m in my own world.”
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
