Better Late Than Never!

This may be as late of a blog as they come, but I can still remember everything from the La Strada meal from a week ago. I feel this deserves an explanation so it is this: I have been trying to find a way to post the many pictures I took. I hope that does the trick, but anyway, back to serious business.

La Strada was a lot of fun. I remember I sat right next to William and my Dad right across from me. We had a great time even before we even began. Then once we began, it just kept getting better and better. Ms. Kronenberg started everything perfectly. I think it was a good idea to get the food first before we began the day's activities, because once they get started, they never end.

Aside from the pastas and chickens, what I loved the most is that we were in the presence of Brown Students, Brown Alumni, and even a Brown Admissions officer. I think Cynthia Fong was terrific. I think it is no surprise that she had been accepted into Brown University. She knew so much and looked like the person that could tackle anything that came her way, and it was very nice of her to post her visit to Brown on this blog.

Following that were many more people. The Brown Freshman advisor was very energetic and made me want to get up and give her a hug. She knew so much and was so energetic. It is impossible to not listen to her and her words made me want to go even further and have a hope to attend this prestigious University. 

Next was the Brown Admission officer. I could not believe she took time out of her busy schedule just to see us. It was a pleasure to know that Officers from Ivy League schools keep track of our district. What I liked most was to see all the passion she has for her job. It is comforting to know that there are people like her that are truly passionate about what they do.

The next group were the student speakers. Lucero Perez and Austin Long were terrific. If I were to make a speech, it would sound just like that. They never said anything that I would disagree with.

There was one person that made that evening even more worth while. Mr. Medrano's closing statement was terrific. He was the perfect closing to a very perfect evening. 

But just like an advertisement, "wait there's more!" The Q and A was very helpful. There were only a handful of questions simply because a lot of them were answered. I liked how open they were and how the people on the panel did not stray away from the answers. Sure it would have been handy to have a Spanish to English translator, but anyone could tell what they were talking about. Then, after Mr. Ramsey's closing, we had the chance to talk to them individually. It was an evening to put in the record books because it had everything one could ask, good fun, good food and good people.

A Closer Look

What I liked the best about Sunday's brunch at La Strada restaurant was that it offered me a closer look at Brown University. By concentrating on the Brown students and on the very important guests, the ILC allowed me to ask more in-depth questions and learn more extensively about Brown. I enjoyed meeting guests which included Admissions Officers Mercedes Domenech and Elizabeth Hart as well as Julianne Sum (Brown alum and parent).

I'm very excited about the mentorship opportunity represented by Ms. Sum. It's too bad that we won't be able to start right away this summer, but I think it's great that it's happening at all.

Coronado Principal Linda Cohen opened my eyes to ways that we as ILC students could give back to our community. I will definitely find a way to connect to the young students in the district schools on my return from our summer trip.

Thank you everybody for taking the time to organize and attend this event which inspired and educated me so much. The speakers' words will continue to echo in my mind.

Italian Food and Brown Admissions Officers

The brunch was such a great event that truly gave me the insight on everything: the West Contra Costa Unified School District, the Ivy League Connection, Brown University and the many people who devote themselves to all of these things. I realized that our district is trying very hard to help deserving students get to where they can be. They place in our minds that those who dream big can really accomplish what they have the potential for.

When the Brown Admissions officers were talking about their passions for Brown, many of the things they said were the exact things I hope to have once I am in college. What Mercedes Domenech and Elizabeth Hart were explaining about Brown really held my attention: the open curriculum, the unity among the students, the types of study abroad programs, the rigorous academics and so much more that makes Brown such an amazing university. 

I am especially interested in the Portuguese studies department as I plan to major in that area and language. Mercedes was excellent in that she provided a great way for me to contact the head professors there. It goes to show that the Brown staff are incredibly helpful and open to students for questions and concerns. I am glad that they took the time to come to the Bay Area and have a meeting with us; I genuinely feel that it was an event I definitely couldn't have missed.

When Mr. Medrano spoke about the reasons why it is important to persevere and to endure hardships, especially to those of us who are minorities and low-income, I felt the same passion he holds towards equitable education for all. It's important to motivate students, even when they are young, like Linda Cohen, principal of Coronado elementary school, said. I am definitely planning to come visit the elementary school once I return from Brown to inspire these young and smart minds that they can go anywhere they want if they put their minds to it.

In retrospect and in simple words, the brunch was a cherished event for me. My passion for Brown has deepened and I find myself wanting to attend there even more. I can hardly wait for July to come around and arrive in Rhode Island for the time of my life. Again, I would to thank everyone for their support and enthusiasm towards us. Everyone like Mr. Ramsey, Ms. Kronenberg, Mr. Medrano, and everyone else on the school board as well as the Brown alumni who took the time to take questions from us did an incredible job of making the brunch a successful one. I appreciate it so much and I look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

The School Board Meeting and Brunch at La Strada

It has been quite some time since this meeting occurred but I wanted to give my insight on it. The event was a complete success and most significantly it was wonderful. I felt so special being presented to the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) Board of Education along with the other ILC members who like myself this summer will engage in a summer program at some of the most distinguished schools in the East Coast. The experience was absolutely terrific. I would like to thank Mr. Ramsey and the rest of the individuals involved in the ILC for making all of this possible. I really enjoyed meeting my chaperon, who looks like a really nice person and who will surely make my trip even more memorable. I really liked the part where all the members of the ILC were presented directly to the School Board and were given a very nice certificate in recognition for being in the program and for what they are to do this summer. The people in the audience seemed very impressed with what all of us are going to be doing over the summer and it made me realize the appreciation that people hold for us. Additionally, it was great to hear a fellow ILC member who is going to start his freshmen year in college at Columbia University. What really made the night even more special was the fact that my mother was there and that surprisingly my eight grade English teacher was in the audience. Afterwards, she told me that she was very proud and that it seemed that during all these years I have been keeping busy. Beside is a snapshot of everyone participating in the Women and Leadership course at Brown University, it was taken during the time when Don was taking the pictures of the ILC during the Board Meeting.



Today at La Strada, we had a terrific brunch. I found it particularly informative and enriching. I learned so many new things about Brown that only make me want to be there more and more. I'm becoming really fond of this university due to all the resources and opportunities that it provides its students with.

All the things that were discussed at this meeting were so exciting and helpful. For example, I learned that Brown actually has Classics which is one of the majors that I am debating about at the moment. The fact that Brown also offers its students plenty of research opportunities and to study abroad are only two of the many reasons of why I am considering Brown as the right place for me to spend four critical years of my life at.

We had great speakers at this meeting, like Madeline Kronenberg, the WCCUSD School Board President, who welcomed everyone to the event. We also had Cynthia Fong, a student of the WCCUSD who will attend Brown in the fall of this year, deliver a speech concerning her experience in the ILC and at the summer programs she was able to attend during her high school career. In addition, two other fellow ILC members Austin Long and Lucero Perez presented a speech. Afterwards, Linda Cohen, the principal of Coronado Elementary School, spoke about the necessity to push students and motivate them to excel in school really made me think about the elementary school that I attended and how we could all help the young students of the WCCUSD. In the end, she invited the ILC students to Coronado so that we could make some presentations next year, which I am really considering doing. Then we had the admission officers speak about the programs at Brown and other things that Brown has to offer. I really admired the fact that the admission officers are really dedicated to their jobs and are so helpful. I absolutely loved Antonio Medrado's closing speech it was absolutely inspiring and no doubt able to get its message across.

The food at La Strada was delicious and the atmosphere inviting. I loved the fact that we had the opportunity to have many of our questions concerning Brown answered. La Strada was just the right place to hold this event and welcome the admission officers of Brown University. Thank you Mr. Ramsey and the rest of the people involved with the ILC for this amazing experience!

(Featured in the picture are Mr. Ramsey and myself at the end of the brunch at La Strada