Yasmin Richards

Learning is a full-circle experience
By Yasmin Nicole Richards

 

I write poetry and consider myself an artist. I’m from the Bronx. And I had trouble committing to a college … until I learned about pre-college programs.

I was in the second semester of my junior year in high school and realized I needed to get serious about college. I had learned about Skidmore College and knew I liked it a lot, but was uneasy making a full commitment. When I learned I could go early and “test” it out, I knew it would be a perfect opportunity to integrate myself and feel what it was like.

Pre-College was a whirlwind, but it changed everything for me. I came home with seven college credits under my belt and the first taste of being an adult, fully responsible for myself. I loved the independence and was proud of what it meant for me.

That’s the thing – I learned plenty in my courses during Pre-College, but I learned just as much about myself. For example, there were plenty of group trips and events. Sometimes I was all in. Others, I opted out of as I learned what made sense for me and started to understand my own personal balance.

So, whether it was in a classroom or deciding what to do with friends, I had a lot of fun learning things I had never imagined. New people, new places, new perspective. Exploring my likes and dislikes and all around setting myself up for a cleaner picture of what I wanted my college experience to be.

Is it right for you? You’ll have to find out. But I’d advise that you at least consider it, but you won’t know until you try. You just might love it, like me!