Hercules Council Speech

The Hercules city council speeches were terrific. All of the Hercules Ivy League students were very good with their speeches. They were clear and terrific. I know I could never say this enough but, many thanks to Don, Ms. Kronenberg, Mr. Ramsey, Ms. Ishmael, Mr. Zak and the Hercules City Council for pushing for programs like this. I really like what the mayor said about our city being behind us all the way and even starting at elementary schools to get prepared for the Ivy League Connection.

Once again, the speeches were great and I thought all of us had addressed everything that could have been possibly said during the time. I know that we are very lucky to have an entire city behind us and I hope it will always be like that for us and all the following Ivy League Students in the future.

Thanks for your support Hercules City Council!

Tonight, all seven students participating in the ILC program this year from Hercules High School were gathered under one roof to express our appreication and journey thus far. Special thanks to Mr. Ramsey, Ms. Kronenberg, Mr. Zak, Ms. Ishmael, and the City Council for having us. Your support deserves a thousand thanks.

I was thrilled with the outcome of everyones speeches. Henry Hung led, and I spoke last but certainly not the least. Each of us opened with our program, what it offers, what elementary and middle school we came from and more importantly, our immeasurable interest in the ILC program. Once again, everyone did a splendid job and represented well.

Unfortunately, Mr. Ramsey and Ms. Kronenberg were unable to hear our speeches because of other activities to attend to, but let me reassure both of you that we delivered in an outstanding manner!

Take care.

Unforgetable time.

One word- IMPRESSIVE.

I was extremely honored to be a part of Thursday night's dinner at Jardinieres in San Francisco. My mother, Linh, accompanied me and was able to meet and hear the Brown alumnis, Irene, and Megan speak. Irene and Megan presented themselves and the ILC very well in their speech. Great job both of you! The restaurant, food, and atmosphere deserved five stars. Our private dining area provided an intimate dinner which allowed everyone to feel comfortable around each other. Although it was the first time most of us have met face to face, everyone's friendliness and openness made it easy to communicate.

Sitting to the left of me was Brown Alumni Simon Hong. Right when I sat down, I knew we had an instant connection, someway or another. And boy was I right! I gave him an insight about the ILC program and how fortunate we all are to be apart of it. We exchanged background information and I learned he majored in Business when at Brown. I learned more about him as we enjoyed appetizers, salad, and our spareribs. Unfortuantely, Simon was unable to join us for dessert but he gave me his business card before he departed. The moment he handed me his business card was when the connection came alive. "Ironwood" was printed across the top which was surprising. My aunt works at the same company and when he knows her quite well. Connection?

Overall, I was very impressed by everyone's hard work and efforts in hosting this dinner. Thanks Jardiniere for the food and lovely location. Thursday's dinner was a worthy splurge.

Look forward to seeing everyone soon again!

Jardiniere and the Brown Experience

This is my first and incredibly belated blog entry.

There has been a whirlwind of events since my acceptance into the ILC program and the creation of this blog, and between my internet-challenged self and everything I've had to do, I simply haven't had the chance to blog at all, but now, I am speaking up. Finally.

I have a feeling this ILC program is going to be one of the best things that happens to me in my high school life. I can't put into words how I felt when Ms. O'Brien approached me about this program. I spent hours on my essay, drawing inspiration from the women who changed my life the most, which was only appropriate, as I was applying for the Women and Leadership program at Brown.

The day I was accepted, I was ecstatic. I would be spending the middle of my summer, after a life-altering trip to Peru, in one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Needless to say, out of all the Ivy Leagues, Brown was always the one I felt most connected to.

And on Thursday night, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the people who made this program a reality at Jardiniere's. It was a wonderful dinner, and I was happy to sit with some amazing people.

I met a few amazing girls who I would be spending the summer with, at the same program I was attending. One girl, Guadalupe Morales, who gave me permission to call her Lupe, had a lot in common with me, including some of our dream colleges. My mother and I also had an amazing conversation with Antonio Medrano, a school board member who shared a passion for languages with me.

The dinner only solidified what I already knew- that this summer's program at Brown is the place for me, and I can't wait to go.

Another Awesome Meeting

The Brown dinner at Jardiniere's Thursday night was fabulous! I had fun seeing all my fellow "brownies" again as well as our supporters. It's a wonderful idea putting different types of members in this big ILC family together. I enjoyed talking to the Brown alumnies and was able to learn about their experiences at Brown and life there. I have been very nervous about going to such a prominent school with other competitive students, but after hearing about one alumni's accomplishments at Brown, I was inspired. Maybe students from other backgrounds are better prepared for college than others, but hard work and organization will also reward one with success.
The food at the restaurant was magnificent and the speeches from Megan and Irene were great. Thanks to all the supporters again, especially Mr.Ramsey, Mrs.Kronenbrg and Don for your dedications and contributions to ILC. Without you, we would never get such a wonderful opportunity to participate in this awesome event and to even get to know more about Brown University.

The ILC Dinner = A Total Success

The ILC dinner this past Thursday was a total success. I really enjoyed meeting so many people and I would like to thank everyone who worked to make this event so memorable and special for everyone including our parents. I just feel so much more excited of going to Brown now that I got the chance to talk to so many people who have already visited the East Coast. Many of these same people gave me advice concerning how my stay will be and what I will need to bring. The food was just delicious and the speakers at the dinner were great. I would like to congratulate both Megan and Irene for their wonderful speeches, they said so many things that I too feel and agree with. The talking at the dinner was nonstop and it continued onto the Bart as well. My mother and I even got some really pretty flowers to take home, which I find was a really nice gift. I really liked the people that I sat with during the dinner, among them was Antonio Medrano, a school board member who congratulated all of us for our courage to take on this challenge and for representing our district so well. There was just so much to say and so much to hear that the night practically flew by and no one noticed that it was around ten o'clock by the time we actually left Jardinière and began our walk back to the Bart. Now I just anticipate the next meetings one in May where we will be presented to the School Board and the other in June which is our Orientation . We are almost there!!

Fancy Dinners and Nice People

The Brown Dinner on Thursday night with all of my fellow Brown summer students was delicious. The carrot soup was wonderful, as was the fish, and the chocolate cake was scrumptious. I also enjoyed talking to some of the alumni, and I'm glad to had have that opportunity as they answered many of my questions. Most notably, I remember that one alumni told me that, "Very few students your age know what they want to do for the rest of their lives yet. Those who do are very lucky indeed." Although simplistic and logical, his comment assured me that I was not the only one in the world panicking about their future lives and jobs. He continued on to say that it really doesn't matter what is your first job, but what job you end up in is what matters. Also very comforting words. As I talked to another alumni, she told me to remember that all colleges are different, and not to worry about what college offers what. Just pick the one that you feel comfortable in, and you'll do just fine. As we ended the evening, I thought about all the knowledge and friendships I made that night, and I realized that without the ILC, I would not have had such an opportunity to learn not only about my future, but about how to reach my full potential. As always, my thanks go out to Don Gosney, Mr. Ramsey and Ms. Kronenberg for their continual support, dedication, and hard work to make dreams like these possible for the students of the WCCUSD.

ILC Dinner and Gathering

The dinner last night with the Brown "family" was just spectacular. It was both entertaining and informative at the same time which made it awesome. Through this get-together, I got to know many Brown alums as well as the supporters of the ILC program such as the infamous Jonathan Spoon. I would like to thank them once again for making my wish to study at Brown University possible. After this dinner, I have been more inspired and determined to follow the path set by previous ILC members attending Brown and succeed.
The food at Jardiniere was exceptional. All of the dishes I had possessed many delicious and intricate qualities in them. The only problem was the I had a little too many cocktails (non-alcoholic of course) and I felt "drunk" in a way. The service was great and I pleasantly enjoyed the meal.
Recap: 1. Awesome dinner. 2. Great meeting with the Brown family. 3. Had fun. 4. Was on a sugar rush from the cocktails until 1 in the morning. All in all, last night's dinner was a bomb. Hope to have more in the future. Till next time.

A Wonderful Night

Last night at the Jardiniere’s was great. I have to admit I was a little nervous about the dinner at first, but it turned out to be an outstanding experience. I had so much fun talking with everyone at my table. I had amazing conversations with Mr. Jose Vilar and Mr. Antonio Medrano who were sitting next to me. I also had delightful conversations with Selene, Guadalupe, and Mariana. It was exciting to find out that Mariana will also be part of the Women and Leadership program during the summer at Brown University.

We spoke with one another while eating and sharing personal experiences. Mr. Medrano and Mr. Vilar really encouraged me to continue trying my best in everything so I can go really far in life and come back to help my community. It was great. Everyone seemed as excited as I was to be there. I had so much fun getting to know new people.

We all introduced ourselves to each other and said from which school we were. I was amazed to hear that so many adults there had been previous staff at Richmond High School. It was so much fun. I wish I could have heard everything in the speeches that were given, but it was a little hard to hear. However, I did manage to hear a large part of the speeches. Everyone did a fantastic job. Megan and Irene were wonderful!

Overall, it was a very memorable experience. The night went by so quickly! Our walk to and from Bart was great too. I was able to speak with Don Gosney and many others. I am so happy to be part of such a great program in where everyone is really friendly. I can’t wait to visit Brown and build strong friendships and connections with everyone.

An Amazing Night of Connections and Conversations

Last night at Jardiniere's was amazing. At first I was nervous about my speech and hastily wrote down some notes on the BART train to make sure I wouldn't blank out when I was in front of everybody. But when I got up there, I discovered that I couldn't even see my notes at all! Instead I decided to improvise, and actually started enjoying myself. It helped that everyone was introduced and didn't feel like complete strangers to me. Every time I speak in front of a large audience it gets easier. Thank you to the organizers for giving me that chance yesterday. Also, congratulations to Megan for giving a smooth, beautiful speech!

Afterwards, I talked with Cherie about how the view of women changed over time from the 1820s to the present. Dawn Atwater, sitting next to me, shared stories about having to wear a girdle because it was the social norm and even required for her job. It was so interesting to learn about this firsthand from people who had experienced it.

I also heard about someone who is on her way to doing something very different from the social norm. It turns out that Madeline Kronenberg's daughter is planning to go to university in Medellín, Colombia. That's a funny coincidence, because my dad is from Colombia and my mom studied for many years there. Ms. Kronenberg said that one positive thing that had come out of her daughter's decision was that her daughter had learned to pursue what she wanted, even though many people she told about it were shocked and thought she was a little "nutty".

I also met Peggy, who knows the joys and difficulties of being a student athlete. She encouraged me to investigate later whether or not I will be allowed to bring my figure skates to Brown so I can train on the university's ice surface during the three weeks I will be there. I would love to skate on that ice; I really hope I will be allowed to train there.

On the ride back, I had a great time talking to Sue from Pinole Valley High School. I told her what my favorite classes were and why I liked them the best.  I have so many favorite classes that I have only a vague idea of what my career path might be. She reminded me that in the future, there may be jobs that don't even exist now, and that it's good that I keep an open mind. Several people, in fact, advised me to take my time with important decisions like majors and careers, because they know the full consequences of not thinking twice.

Everyone that I talked to assured me that I would love Brown. Every time I attend an event with the Ivy League Connection, I feel more lucky and grateful that I can go through with the program. Thank you very much to everyone who made this dinner possible. It's just amazing to know that people care about us and want us to experience the best things life has to offer. Thank you for the opportunity to network and make connections with alums, staff, parents, students, and other contributors to the program. I hope everyone enjoyed this night as much as I did!

P. S. About a week ago, several ILC students, including myself, attended a college admissions information session led by Ms. Sue Kim! We received a binder that contains all the information, recommendations, and requirements related to going to college. She let us know that she will be here to help us throughout the college admissions process and encouraged us to set up individual meetings. I am so happy that I will have a priceless resource in the dedication and knowledge of Ms. Kim, in addition to the great counseling and College-Career Center staff at El Cerrito HS.

P. P. S. I apologize for not always remembering people's full names or their correct pronunciations. I met so many people yesterday that it was hard to keep the names all matched up in my head. Even if I don't remember your name correctly at the moment, I still remember the conversations we had and the wonderful night we shared. Hopefully we will be able to cement the initial connections that we made yesterday evening.

Food and Fun

Today's dinner was simply amazing. I could not have been any happier. All around me were people who were extremely friendly as well as very excited. Having a big dinner with everyone involved in the ILC, the school district and the Brown alumni made it very memorable for me. I finally got to meet Mariana Zavala and her mother as well as Antonio Medrano and Jose Vilar; all of these people were kind and just as excited as I was.

The presentations went very well although at times it was difficult to hear everything that the speaker was trying to say. It became a difficult task to really pay attention. Thankfully, I got to hear many things, including Irene's and Megan's speeches (which were really awesome!) and also the Brown alumni. It proceeded through the night very smoothly and very quickly I would say. Most importantly, it was a wonderful night.

Overall, I can say that this night has made me open my eyes to the many opportunities I have right at my doorstep. Of course, these possibilities would not be here if it weren't for great people like Mr. Ramsey (who taught me a valuable lesson today, I might add), the rest of the school board and everyone else who puts in their time and effort into our education and our development.

Again, I can't wait to visit Brown! It's just around the corner! I'm glad to be part of the WCCUSD, my community and my school.

Brown Dinner

The Brown dinner was terrific! It had the best combination of fun and food that could have ever been. There were the terrific speeches and meeting new people made it all the better. It was very touching to hear from all the sponsors and the Brown Alumni and even members of the school district. Ms. Kronenberg was a terrific host and she opened everything up perfectly. It was very fun and the setting could not have been better. It was great to hear that all the positive things that everyone had to say about the program. It is very much an honor to be a part of the program. What I am not shocked from is that the program is the top program in the nation. It is a very well put together program and I hope it continues because one of the things I remember Mr. Ramsey say is "I may not be alive forever, but the district will" and that it takes more than just one person to run everything.

It meant a lot to hear from Don, who sat next to me, all that is happening around the school district. I definitely learned a lot. It was also a treat to learn how much expertise Don has at photography and it was amazing to see him in action and the size of both of his lenses were shockers. It was very nice to hear how well everyone at the table just seemed to mesh. Seems like the only time there was an awkward moment was when the waiter brought me a regular beer instead of a root beer, but that was all resolved very quickly.

What I found the most interesting is how kind and welcoming everything was. To be honest, this was not what I was expecting. I was expecting strict quietness and everyone keeping to themselves and eating their food, but it was the total opposite. It was a relaxed and friendly environment where everyone was chatting and having a great time.

One of the top moments in my book were Megan and Irene's speeches. They were great. The only problem was the lighting but that was nothing that would ruin the night. I think they were fine choices to have to represent both of the Brown sessions. It was great to hear from the mentors and how they help students like me get into the schools of their dreams. I feel that there are more opportunities and although I may still like UCLA, that bright light is starting to get more and more dim by the second.

I know this is just the first of many more events to happen and I cannot wait until the next one and everyone did a great job and see you next time!

ILC Alum Dinner

My speech is done and I feel good about it but I'm so nervous. I can't wait to see everybody at the dinner again.

Till then!

Megan Robb

Thank you Board Members

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Harter, Mr. Ramsey, Ms.Kronenberg, Mr.Medrano, Ms.Miles, and Mr.Thurmond for their their efforts and participation in the Ivy League program. Your support and approval of our travels are highly appreciated. I will execute myself in a professional manner, study hard, and do my best in representing my school, the West Contra Costa Unified School District, and most importantly, the Ivy League Program. Thank you once again!

Furthermore, I would like to touch briefly on the meeting held Friday, April 16 at Pinole Valley High School with Sue Kim. If you are unfamiliar with Ms. Kim, she is a college counselor that is close-knitted to the ILC. She works closely with a handful of students each year, guiding each student and their families in the financial aid process and any other college-related matters. Since my sister worked with her as well, I have heard a lot about her- and how helpful she was in college finances.

I was very impressed with Ms. Kim's organization skills and expertise. She provided each participant with a binder swelled with college tips, cartoons, timelines, calendars, suggested dates, you name it! This binder will no doubt come in handy throughout junior and senior year. Ms. Kim has already set temporary dates for our next several meeting sessions. I look forward to working with her as I am positive she has a lot to offer.

Time has definitely flied by. It is already mid-April where STAR testing, subject testing, SAT (for some) and AP testing begins. This means that all of us will be too focused and drained off testing! This also means that studying at Brown is also drawing near! I will befriend different individuals from all parts of the world, study International Finances, establish a bond with my professor and residential leaders, and most of all explore and live on my own for a solid three weeks.

I cannot express my joy and appreciation for everyone who has contributed to my life-changing experience. Moments like these are truly remarkable and remembered for a lifetime.

Once again, I would like to thank all the sponsors, the WCCUSD Board Members, Ms. Ishmael, and especially the ILC team for their full support.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday night!

Going

Now that it is official, I can look forward to Brown.

Thank you.

The great news!

Hi everyone. I'm sorry it's been a while since the last time I blogged because of my impacted schedule with the MESA(Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) competition at CSU East Bay and Robotic Competition held by The Tau Beta Pi Pioneers In Engineering program at UC Berkeley.
It's really nice to know that we are offically approved to go to Brown this summer! Thank you to all of the WCCUSD school board members Ms.Kronenberg, Mr.Medrano, Ms.Miles, Mr.Ramsey, Mr.Thurmond and Dr.Harter for your support. Thank you for making ILC and the trip possible for us! This is going to be a great experience and I can't wait to fly to Brown with my fellow ILC members!
I am also looking forward to meeting everyone again this Thursday at ILC dinner at Jardiniere Restaurant in San Francisco. Again thank WCCUSD school board, including Mr.Ramsey and Don for making all these fabulous events possible for ILC!

The Feeling of Certainty

First of all I would like to extend my thanks to all of the WCCUSD Board Members and to the Superintendent for approving the trip to Brown University for the Summer of 2010. This trip is so meaningful for me because of the new experiences it will allow me to have and the ability to share it with the members of my community.

I feel so excited and I anticipate the day we will get on the plane on our way to Providence. At first the fact that I was going on this trip seemed so unreal to me, but now I know with much certainty that I am going, that this summer I will be at one of the most prestigious schools in the country and that I will be taking a class there and this would not be possible without the ILC. I feel like I am going to take picture after picture once I get there so that everyone can see what we all are going to experience.

Furthermore, I would like to comment on the session with Sue Kim that we had the past Friday at Pinole Valley High. I feel that it was very helpful and it has made me consider the benefits that small colleges do have to offer and the need to be careful with what we do from now on. I feel that with Sue Kim's help the whole process of applying to college is going to be much more comfortable for many of us and I thank her and the ILC for this.

I can sincerely say that in my perspective the ILC is an organization that really makes an impact in the lives of students in the WCCUSD and it would not be possible if it were not for Don, Mr. Ramsey, Ms. Kronenberg, and everyone else who forms part of it. Thank you all for all your hard work and for making this trip a reality for all of us.

Hope to see everyone at the upcoming dinner this week!

The end.

Hello all =) I apologize for the lack of posting, but I hope it is understandable since I did not have a computer with me at Brown.

If I had to come up with one word to sum up my whole experience, it would be awesome. Not only did I meet super interesting (note that I said interesting, not just the typical "amazing") people, I learned more about the curriculum, the support available to undergraduates, the professors that work at Brown, the dorm life, the social scene, the food and everything that Brown has to offer.

Though Brown is prestigious (with a 9.3% acceptance rate this year, prestigious might even be understating it), it is by no means all work and no fun. All the people that I met were well-balanced, both involved with school and extra-curriculars. Visiting Brown a second time around made me realize that smart people are a dime a dozen. Everybody at Brown is smart. No exceptions. The difference between Brown and most universities, however, is that they teach you how to harness your potential and your dedication to achieve whatever it is you want to achieve. Brown really fosters learning for the sake of learning and personal advancement; they do so by offering an open curriculum as well as pass/fail courses.

Putting aside the fact that everybody is smart, everybody also knows how to have a good time. While at Brown on the last night after ADOCH, there were an assortment of different activities going on: some recitals, some parties, some plays, some fellowships. There were activities for all types of people.

And, as promised, pictures. I actually have a fusillade of them for you, I just didn't get the chance to upload them until now:

I feel like this last visit to Brown has really given me an idea of the type of students I should expect to find there, should I choose to go to Brown in the fall, as well as the type of learning environment Brown is. I am excited for you juniors/sophomores who will be going to Brown during the summer, and I encourage you all to take advantage of this opportunity by having fun, talking to the professors, and getting to know the people.

We have been Approved! This program has changed my life and I will remember it forever. I can not wait to step foot on the plane with my fellow Brown Bears and set off an the greatest journey yet. I am honored to be apart of this program and thankful to those who have been there to make it happen and those who support me. I am extremely excited and honored. I can't wait to get to learn about biotechnology!

Megan Robb
Go Brown Bears!

Onward to Brown!

Hooray! We're approved to go to Brown in the summer for ILC! Thank you to all of the Board of Education members who approved this trip for us to learn at Brown University. The knowledge that nothing can stop us now is very comforting, and I'm very excited to spend time in Brown and make new friends. The opportunities that this opens up for us is overwhelming, as I cannot begin to imagine life at Brown for four weeks yet. But no matter what happens, I'm sure that I will learn a lot and have a lot of fun. Thank you to the WCCUSD Board Members!

Happy News

Before I go ranting off about how joyful I am about getting accepted into the Brown ILC program, I would like to first thank all of the people who made this possible; Charles, Don, and all of the schoolboard members. Now, proceeding to excitement mode.
Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to Brown, I'm going to Brown, I'm going to Brown... I can't tell you how happy I am. My sister is getting annoyed at how much I brag about going to Brown. A few years back, I was a naive, little boy who didn't know a thing about college except that Harvard was only place to go if you wanted to be successful. Now, I just can't believe that I'm attending Brown and learning from a place among the top tier schools. I'm just excited and amazed. Anyways, I better calm myself down before I actually get annoying. Looking forward to the dinner next Thursday. In the meantime, take care.

We’ve been approved!

I would like to start off by thanking Mr. Ramsey, Don, Ms. Audrey Miles, Mr. Antonio Medrano, Mr. Tony Thurmond, Ms. Kronenberg, and Mr. Harter for allowing me to have the honor to attend Brown University this summer. I am so grateful that I was one of the lucky students chosen to be part of this wonderful program.

I am so glad that the school board has given us the approval to go to Providence, Rhode Island. I would like to thank everyone for giving me this wonderful opportunity to experience new things. Once I received the email that we had been approved, I was so excited. I can not wait for my new learning adventure to begin this summer. I am so delighted that we have passed the last phase in the process to go to Brown University!

Once again, I would like to thank everyone who has made this trip possible. This has really encouraged me to continue trying my best. As soon as I read the email that said that the last phase to go to Brown had been passed, I thought to myself: “Wow this is really happening!” I was overjoyed. I am so eager to go to Rhode Island.

Thank you all for helping me get closer to achieving my goals!

Officially and Completely Leaving for Brown!!

I am very pleased and excited to know that our school board gives us their full support of the
Ivy League Connections program as well as their approval of our upcoming trip
to Brown. The support of Mr. Antonio Medrano, Ms. Audrey Miles, Mr. Tony Thurmond, Ms. Kronenberg, Mr. Ramsey, Don, and Mr. Harter has sincerely made me grateful of being offered such an exciting and rewarding opportunity.

Although I was not thoroughly aware that the trip still had another test to pass, I am delighted to hear that it had passed its last phase. Writing those emails was a pleasure as it let me express my gratitude towards few of the many people who put their hard work and effort into providing experiences like this to other students. I love to acknowledge and thank those who provide an excellent service to students.

The confirmation of going to Brown has prompted me to reflect on my thoughts and goals of what I plan to do once I set foot in Rhode Island. I hope to further develop myself as a student leader and gain an understanding of distinguishable women in our history. And most importantly, I plan to take what I learn at Brown and apply to my life and community back here in Richmond.

I am very excited to be going to Brown! I can not wait!

We Passed!

I cannot begin to express my joy that the Ivy League Connection has passed! It is very exciting to here that it is official and now we have the full support of the school district. In addition to Mr. Ramsey and Ms. Kronenberg, and Don. it is an honor to have the full support of the other members, Mr. Antonio Medrano, Ms. Audrey Miles, and Mr. Tony Thurmond, along with superintendent Mr. Bruce Harter. It was terrific news to hear when I opened that email. I will be honest though, I had no idea that it had to been pending approval from the district board, but it is a nice relief to hear that it is okay and that it is another step forward. I do hope that each of the board members and Mr. Harter had received my email. I still cannot get the mind out of the thought that me, a high school junior who has always thought small, is in a program that is large. I am still happy to hear that it had passed and I hope that if there is any more hurdles to cross, then we can hop over them and then some.

Day two.

"In order to succeed in life, doubt is required."

The president of the college, Ruth Simmons, gave us a warm welcome tonight on the Main Green. We listened as she went on about the school, what Brown offered, what the students are like, and what they expected of us. She spoke about how Brown loves to foster curiosity in its students, and how you are encouraged to explore any and everything you've ever wondered about.

As she spoke, one could not help but notice the sincerity in her voice and in her smile. She believed in us, and I felt that. Not only was the president amazing, but the students who helped us get situation in Pembroke before the welcome session were very informative. I have not met one person here who does not love it, and I honestly do not expect to.

Earlier today, I was able to attend the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) program. The professors there were adorable beyond measure, with the type of humor only likeminded people could understand. The physics professor gave a lecture about levitating frogs (I kid you not). Where else but Brown?

Though the weather was amazing today, they were telling us to expect showers tomorrow. Rhode Island weather, how I missed you so.

Day one.

Rhode Island is beautiful as ever.

Upon my arrival, I took the Providence Shuttle to Brown and when I arrived, I met up with Elizabeth Gonzales, who agreed to host me.

They took us to the TWW dinner, and at the dinner, I got to socialize with students and professors. The food was good too.

All in all, today was a good day. I got to talk to many Brown students about their experience here at Brown, and they love it here. Everybody is enthusiastic (maybe because they're part of the program that's hosting a welcome, I don't know) and everybody seems to be happy, or content.

Good night =)

Brown-bound

Hello devoted followers of the ILC blogs :)

Though I will not be going to Brown this summer as a part of the ILC, I was a past participant of the program and I did go to Brown last summer.

Courtesy of the ILC, I was given the opportunit to visit Brown for ADOCH (A Day On College Hill) and TWW (Third World Welcome). I don't think it's necessary to describe the excitement welling up in the pit of my stomach (both from the prospect of visiting Brown and the fact that I get to miss another week of school to do it) but even if I were to try, my words would do my feelings no justice.

Even the foreboding thought of long flights and stopovers will not dampen my spirits.