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Frederick Douglass Institute for Academic Excellence |
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Bloomsburg University |
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Name: SALIS HART Reflection: The most positive activity that I did with Frederick Douglass was the Washington, D.C. trip. The D.C. trip was a positive experience because it was fun to visit Frederick Douglass's House. It gave me a better understanding of how Frederick Douglass lived, and the type of house he lived in. I also enjoyed visiting the Washington and Lincoln Monuments because I had never been to Washington, D.C. It was like a once in a life time experience. Another aspect about the Freddy D LLC is that you get to learn how to work as team through fun activities. Advice: The Frederick Douglass is an awesome program to join for your first year at Bloomsburg. It will be a great way to start off your experience at Bloom because it helps you understand what you have to do to succeed your first year of college. The Frederick Douglass LLC is also a great way for you to meet and get to know many new people that are also in the LLC. One way you get to meet these new faces is by having the same classes with them. You also have tutors that live with you so you can get the help that you need when you need it.
Name: ERIC M'ELWEE Reflection: The Frederick Douglass institute has been really good to me and for me. This program helped me with my classes when I needed the help. It’s like a mom watching over you because when you do badly, a mentor or tutor is always there to help you bounce back. The Freddy D LLC has you take classes with other people from the learning community so that if you have a question or a problem on the homework or if you want to find out a date that a test/quiz will be taking place, you can ask. The Frederick Douglass program is your support line during your freshmen year—it steers you in the right direction. I enjoyed the Quest and team building exercises that we did at Nelson Field House. It helped me to meet new people that I would have class with and it helped me get a better feel for this whole program. The Frederick Douglass program really goes out of its way to make sure you, as a new student, are really comfortable with your classes, dorm room, and the atmosphere of transitioning from high school to the big world of college. Advice: If you do NOT sign up for the Frederick Douglas Living and Learning Community, the transition from high school to college would not be as easy for you as it was for me.
Name: PRINCESS QURSU Reflection: The Frederick Douglass Program was most helpful with the familiar peers in my classrooms. Frederick Douglass has also been positive because of the trip we recently took to Washington, D.C. I had never been to D.C., so going to Frederick Douglass’s house and seeing how he lived back then was a very positive learning aspect of what the Frederick Douglass LLC stands for. Advice: You get to meet and bond with new people. Because of this, you are guaranteed help because most of the students you bonded with are in your classes. Help will definitely be given is an advantage when you are in the Frederick Douglass LLC. Name: KRISTIN KELLY Reflection: I enjoyed being in the Frederick Douglass LLC because it helped me to get easily acclimated to the new atmosphere. Living in an LLC makes homework assignments or studying for a test a lot easier. There are tutors that are made available solely for the purpose of helping you, or you can ask your dorm-mates, because chances are, they have the same class with you. Having a mentor has also made my college experience worthwhile. Knowing that someone is going to be there for you whenever you need help is an important asset of the Frederick Douglass Program. From all the activities to having classes with people that you live with really helps to make a difference on your college experience. Advice: You have nothing to lose and so much to gain with the tutors and mentors that are there for you. There are many activities and field trips that are planned year round. You never run out of anything to do! Overall, this program strives for academic achievement which can help you succeed to the farthest possibilities.
Name: JOE GREIM Reflection: Orientation was a little hard because there were so many people and it was hard to remember all the names and faces in such a short amount of time. Since most of us live in Luzerne Hall, we see each other every day. I was a little nervous at first because I didn’t think I was going to make any friends, but everyone was in the same boat as me. Since my time at BU, I have gotten to know a lot of people made a lot of friends within Freddy D. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program has been a great experience. Right off the bat, Frederick Douglass will help to take away some of the stresses and fears about college. There’s a great support system that takes place in the Frederick Douglass LLC. Between the professors, the mentors, tutors, and everyone else involved, there is always someone to help you. And when it comes time to schedule classes, they are a great help in making sure that you get all of your general education requirements in, and they help you with the other planning involved.
Name: JASMINE HARRIS Reflection: Frederick Douglass Institute is the perfect way to jumpstart your first year at BU. Usually when you come to college you’re so nervous that you can barely think straight, but Freddy D will make your transition from high school to college much easier. You get a mentor who will help you at all times throughout the year. This helped me a lot because I really felt that as soon as I came to college, life was on my own. Although that may be the case at some colleges, you don’t have to grow on your own in Freddy D. If you need help, you can find it in Freddy D. This will make you feel like you have a family on campus and there are people here who care about you and want you to succeed in life. Advice: The Freddy D LLC will definitely teach you the importance of education. Although it seems like you get the “gist” of how important education is, it takes time to learn your own schedule in college. Sometimes it gets confusing your first year but when you don’t know what’s going on sometimes, why not use an institution that’s been here, knows the rules, and will line you up correctly with your general courses. It s a great way to go in the first year at a college and make a good first start compared. Freddy D is an excellent program helps you to have fun, study with others, and get a good jump start to your first year in college!
Name: KIYANNA JONES Reflection: During the first day of our orientation of the Freddy D program, we were placed into groups of five or six with mentors that guided the freshmen through various activities. They created games, which helped us meet and get to know different people from different schools. The Frederick Douglass Program also helped me with classes, and as a community Freddy D put everyone together in the same classes. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program is a good way to meet different people that normally wouldn’t be seen on campus. Because of this, you will have a lot of new friends your freshman year. Another thing is there are trips to Washington D.C, New York, and more.
Name: ANDREA GOINS Reflection: The tutoring sessions that Freddy D offers has helped me a lot because it’s a place I can go where I know I’ll get my work done and also have someone who understands the course already. The University has a good tutoring service because they usually place you with someone who has had the same professor that you have; however they don’t allow students to go more than once a week. Once a week is not enough! With the Frederick Douglass Program, I was able to go to the tutoring sessions as many times as I wanted, and they are held right in my dorm! Advice: Being in the Frederick Douglass Program is a good opportunity for your first year of college. It allows you to get to know people and have consistent support as a freshman. The Frederick Douglass Program also gives you a lot of opportunities to get involved in various activities and events.
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Name: LAURA TAYLOR Reflection: I really enjoyed doing quest. It truly was an icebreaker and made everyone feel comfortable with each other. I can remember an exercise that was really fun to me that involved using a rope. You had to rely on everyone in your group to hold you up that really built some trust and friendships. Advice: It is a great way to meet new people and most of all the people you are living with will be in your classes so you can all study together. There are also fun field trips and this community is not a burden of any kind, it truly is a fun thing that will allow you to have a good time.
Name: BRIDGET FORD Reflection: One thing that has been positive for me is the support I get from the advisors and my mentor. Even though I barely know my mentor she has been so nice and accepting, I feel like she has my back if I need anything. One experience that had an impact on me was a quest exercise that I did through Frederick Douglass. We had to go through a patch with a bunch of balls in it that we couldn’t touch and we were blindfolded while we traveled through this field. One person had touched a red ball that caused everyone in the field to have to freeze and so in order to unfreeze everyone, one person had to go into the field and touch a yellow ball to unfreeze everyone. Someone guide me when I went into the field to retrieve a yellow ball. Once everyone was unfrozen, I didn’t know where my guide went, so as I was standing there blindfolded not knowing what to do, I heard a voice tell me it was ok and that they would lead me out of the maze. That moment was special to me because it helped me realize that when I am scared and feel alone, there will always be someone there. College is like the maze of balls and when you first get there as a freshmen, it does feel like your blindfolded but Frederick Douglass has people to guide you through it. Advice: Seize every opportunity you can and do NOT be afraid to talk to people because everyone is looking to make new friends.
Name: BRIAN MARSHALL JR. Reflection: The aspect of the Frederick Douglass institute that has been most positive for me thus far is the Frederick Douglass Professors. They have really lived up to their “go out of their way to help you” reputation that I have heard so much about. Also, the mental and academic support that has been given to me by my mentor this semester (Spring 2009). Even though I came to Bloomsburg University as an ACT 101 freshman, there is a major difference between the summer and fall semester. I no longer had people watching my every movement. It wasn’t scary, just a shock. The mentors have really helped me make a nice and smooth transition. Advice: College is not high school where you just had to worry about your grades. In college, you have to worry about your grades and be able to support yourself. Thankfully, the Frederick Douglass Program makes your class schedule a bit easier because the professors are very helpful and supportive. And just in case the help and support is not enough for you, you are assigned a mentor and there are tutors for each Frederick Douglass class.
Name: KERUME DUNKLEY Reflection: The help and concern that I receive from my mentor and teachers are a huge aspect of the Frederick Douglass Program. Freddy helped me schedule my classes for the Fall 2009 semester. Not only is my mentor there for me emotionally, but also academically through tutoring. Advice: Being in the Frederick Douglass Program is a great experience for any freshman. You get to have opportunities that other students may not be able to have. For instance, you get to schedule your classes before anyone else. Also, there are people that want to help you and want you to do well. You also go on fun, educational trips. The trips that Freddy D goes on are not like the boring, educational high school field trips that you are used to. We have fun, yet learn in the process. Most likely you will live in Luzerne which is close to everything.
Name: ALYSSA ADAMS Reflection: The mentors have been the most positive aspect so far to me. Sometimes, when embarking on a new journey, you need a little help. The mentors have been a great part of my transition to college. They hung out with us, got us involved and gave us the insight into what is and isn’t good for us. I have a great connection with just about all of the mentors in the program. Advice: Get involved with everything Freddy D has to offer. Take advantage of all the trips, whether they sound boring or not. I connected with people because they felt the same way I did. You should utilize the mentors that Freddy D has because they have a lot to offer and it’s a good way to feel comfortable with “not knowing”. Freddy D isn’t just a program, we’re family and we all stick together.
Name: SAMANTHA LOTT Reflection: Having a mentor who cares about my academics and my personal well-being has been a positive aspect of the Frederick Douglass Program. My mentor helped me with everything from job searching to advice about classes that I am taking. Freddy D has made my class schedule easy to follow, and I don’t have a professor who is not willing to help me. Thank you Frederick Douglass! Advice: Not only will you get extra help with classes, but you will get set up with a mentor who will be a good listener and will always be there to help you. Freddy D takes you to places for a cheap price, such as Washington, D.C. and New York. Freddy D will set you up with tutors to help you in any of your Freddy D courses. Joining the Frederick Douglass Program will make your first year of college an easy one.
Name: AMBER MICHAEL Reflection: Having a mentor has made helped me with my freshman year. My mentor has made sure that I’m doing my work and has checked on my progress numerous times. Another aspect I like about the Frederick Douglass Program is that they already schedule your classes for you so that you are prepared early for your next semester. Advice: It looks good on your resume and gives you advantage opportunities. Also, if you join the Frederick Douglass Program, the place that you will live in is in the middle of campus. The Freddy D Program will try their best to make sure your work is up to par and that your schedule is not too hectic for you during your first year of college.
Name: TANISHA MONTE Reflection: The most positive Frederick Douglass activity for me was when we went to upper campus to participate in Quest. This experience was good for me because I met a lot of new people. Some of the activities we did brought us really close and made me feel like I had known these people for a long time. Advice: If you are looking for a quick way to meet new people and make friends, the Frederick Douglass Program is for you. Frederick Douglass makes sure that you are comfortable as a freshman and helps you get used to the new environment.
Name: SHEREA ROWMAN Reflection: When I signed up for the Frederick Douglass Institute, I thought that I would just live in a dorm with others that I knew. That wasn’t the case. As I lived in the dorm, I noticed that I also had classes with these students. The Frederick Douglass Program gave me more help than ever not only with work, but with personal problems as well. Advice: This program allows you to be in a classroom with other students in the program. It helps you to communicate with people when you need assistance with your class work. I guess being in classes with other students from the learning community gives you an advantage over other students because you always have someone willing to help you one on one.
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Name: COURTNEY GIVENS Reflection: So far the most positive aspect about Frederick Douglass living learning community is that we have more advantages then most regular freshmen here at Bloomsburg University. Some of the advantages we have is being allowed to have first pick when scheduling our classes, also we receive more help because we are assigned an tutor/mentor. Another advantage is that being involved with this particular living and learning community would look good on a resume or an application. Advice: Join Freddy D and take advantage of the mentors. If you do these things you are creating an alliance with yourself and your mentor.
Name: CHAVONNE MATHIS Reflection: I have felt a huge sense of guidance from many different people through being in the Frederick Douglass. The most positive aspect of the Freddy D. program is the mentors. I personally feel like I can rely on them whenever I need help. By being in Freddy D, it seems like the other members and I are very close to each other. Not because we are placed into some of the same classes, but because of several activities that we have participated in together. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program is a very good program and the people are very encouraging.
Name: SAMUEL JEANNOT Reflection: Having a mentor has been a positive aspect of the Frederick Douglass Program. This has been really beneficial for me because they helped me to stay on track with my work. If I am struggling in a class, they will go out of their way to help me. Lately, I have been having trouble with my math class and my mentor spent at least 12 hours a week helping me with my work and making sure that I understand it. From there on, there was a major transition in my math class—I received better grades and was able to understand the material better. This had also helped me with some of my other classes that I had struggling in as well. Advice: There are a lot of benefits of joining this program. For instance, you will get a chance to get closer to your classmates faster than some of the other freshman. This is a big advantage because some people have a hard time opening up to new people. During the first day of the Freddy D Program, there are numerous activities that enable you to open up and get to know the other people better.
Name: LUCCO REFUSE Reflection: The Frederick Douglass has helped me with my studies. By having study groups, I was able to receive help when it came time to study for a test. Frederick Douglass has also helped me by putting me in classes with other Frederick Douglass students, which made it easier for me to get the homework or notes that I missed for a class when we had our study groups. It has also been a good experience for me to be able to visit other places, such as going to Washington, D.C. and visit Frederick Douglass’s house. In all, it helped me to make the transition into college life. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program is a great program that will help you make an easy transition from high school to college. This program will also help with anything you may need to get through your first year in college.
Name: MIKE BROBAKER Reflection: The tutors that are made available for most classes is one of the most important aspects of the Freddy D Program. For some students it may be difficult to understand exactly what a professor is trying to explain or the material that is being taught. Having someone that has already taken the class and did well is a great asset to a struggling student. By having a peer help you and talk to you, you can better understand what is going on, opposed to hearing it from a teacher all the time. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program will be very beneficial to you because they will support you and aide you in more than just your school work. This program gives you many opportunities to make friends and to have fun with members of your community.
Name: LATIFAH BECKWITH Reflection: I was able to feel more in tuned with college because the Frederick Douglass program provided me with all the help that I needed. The Frederick Douglass staff has really helped to make my transition from high school to college easy and pleasant. For instance, if I had a problem in class or outside of class they were there to help me cope with that situation. Freddy D is like one big family. College is a big deal, and knowign that I have support here makes me feel so much better. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program makes your transition from high school to college very easy. It is a great program that allows you to meet people as well as ask for help if you need it. This program will also enable you to become a great student here at Bloomsburg.
Name: BRIANA POENDEXTEL Reflection: Unlike other living and learning communities Freddy D mentors and faculty went out of their way to help make sure my academic studies were stable. For example, Freddy D has tutors who sit in the classroom and work side by side with professors on exams. The best thing about these tutors is if a student goes to tutoring sessions consistently, they will be able to know what will on the test. Because of the tutors helping me, I have A’s and B’s in all my classes and I understand all the material that is being taught. My Freshmen G.P.A was high, which is very rare for freshmen in college. Advice: Joining the Frederick Douglass LLC is a really good program for any freshmen attending Bloomsburg; you would be crazy not to! The mentors are so helpful and the faculty really cares about your well being.
Name: JOWALIVELINE PETIT-FIERE Reflection: Quest was the most positive aspect of the Frederick Douglass Institute. During the Quest adventure that we took the first week, I met so many people that are now considered great friends and acquaintances. Quest took us from being quiet, shy, scared of change and meeting new people, to being able to see someone sitting alone and walk up to them to talk and find out how their classes were going. Quest helped me realize that even though I can do things on my own, it is so much better and more fun to make it with others. Advice: Freddy D LLC will make it so much easier for you to transition from high school to college. The classes that they have are both helpful and count towards a few of your general education requirements. Besides that it’s a great way to meet new people that are not necessarily in your major, but have some of the same interests as you. It’s a great experience that you don’t want to miss out on…trust me!
Name: DARLENE COLON Reflection: The Frederick Douglass Institute has been a positive influence on me. The Frederick Douglass mentors are a big help. They are there for their mentees if you have a problem, and are also there for you as a friend. Being around and taking classes with fellow Frederick Douglass students is a relief. You get to take class and live around people you get close to or already know. Frederick Douglass has a lot of positive staff members that are there for you if you need help. We go on trips together and do fun things to relax our minds from our never-ending school work. I had never been to Washington, D.C., so it was being able to enjoy it with people I knew. I also had fun at the picnic that Freddy D had. It was a good way to get out and meet new people. The Frederick Douglass Living and Learning Community helped to get me started off on the right track. Advice: The Frederick Douglass program is a good program to help prospective freshman with their college career. You will be around positive people and will enjoy the time that you have with them. If you ever needed help, the staff is always there to listen and try their best to help the students out. I would strongly recommend the program to students who want to succeed in college, and be around people like them.
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Name: PARRIS HARLEY Reflection: The Washington, D.C. trip was the most positive aspect of the Frederick Douglass LLC for me thus far because it informed and showed me new things about Frederick Douglass and the life he lived that I didn’t know. I didn’t know that Frederick Douglass had so much money until I visited his house, which I should say mansion because he had so many rooms. The rest of the Washington, D.C. trip was fun also; I liked how the dinner on the boat brought everyone a little closer to each other. Now, I look even more forward to other trips that will be informational and continue to bring us closer to each other. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program gives students a helping hand with classes when a test is coming up. It is also a very good support program; people whom you can lean on when you need help. The LLC also takes you on nice trips to show their appreciation for you joining their program, and they’re fun too.
Name: DIANDRA DAVY Reflection: Meeting new people is always a good thing to do, especially in college. When I first heard about this living and learning community I really didn’t know what it was about. Now, that I have begun to understand it, it has opened up many great opportunities for me. When everyone first met each other, we were really shy and didn’t say much. At the beginning, most of us already knew each other, but for those who didn’t, they do now and in every meeting that we have, we always have new and exciting things to talk about. I am so happy that I joined Freddy D! Advice: When you are in college, high school or anything I think that you should always try new things. Joining Freddy D will help you meet new and exciting. If you’re shy, you won’t be after you join Freddy D. Once you are a member of the Freddy D LLC, you will start to open up to others, share your experiences, and talk about anything necessary with your fellow LLC members. Even though you may not like it at first, I will love it in the end!
Name: CHANEL MCCOY Reflection: I really enjoyed the first day of being in the Frederick Douglass Program. We had numerous activities that everyone had be involved in and we were all in different groups. These activities that we participated in were for us to get to know each other better and become one within our community. It also taught us how to be ourselves, work well with others, and how to communicate with each other. I had a lot of fun the whole entire time. Advice: rederick Douglass LLC is a really good community to be in and it’s like having a family with all those brothers and sisters, the same age as you, that you’ve always wanted. It’s also a good way to get out there and meet new people. You’re always surrounded by help and assistance which is amazing being on a college campus and all. The community is what you make it!
Name: KENNY SPARKS Reflection: The Freddy D Institute has been very helpful because of the tutoring seminars hat are held before tests. One tutoring seminar that I especially enjoyed going to was Dr. Dalton’s because he was very helpful which aided me in receiving a passing grade on his test. Another important aspect of the Institute is the diversity of people, which is very encouraging toward the desire of experiencing new things. The Quest activities during the beginning of the year were also fun and they helped me make new friends. The trip to Washington, D.C. was also very insightful. I learned a lot of things at the nation’s capital. The boat cruise was phenomenal and a wonderful experience. The most interesting aspect of the trip was Frederick Douglass house. It gave me a new view point that every human being is capable of achieving their goals. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Institute is a good way to make new friends. It will also encourage and make sure you succeed academically.
Name: J. BENJAMIN EISENHOUER Reflection: Since the beginning, Frederick Douglass has helped me adjust to college a lot easier. The picnic at the beginning of the year helped me to meet everyone. Even today, the group of friends that I formed from being in the Frederick Douglass Institute are still my really good friends. Without the worry of having to make friends when college was starting, I was able to focus more on my classes and doing homework. Having this group of friends on the same floor also helps to strengthen the bonds that we already have. Also, moving in before the majority of the campus is another major advantage of being in the Frederick Douglass Program. It gave me time to explore places, and to find out more of the things that the campus had to offer. Advice: You will have mentors to help you through the first few weeks of college, as they can be rough. You will also have tutors for the Freddy D classes that you will be taking, which can help you get ahead. If you join, you will get to move in early—which can enable you to become more familiar with your surroundings before anyone else. Lastly, you get to meet people early, and can make excellent groups of friends before college even starts.
Name: AMOURETTE GRAY Reflection: When I first came to Bloomsburg University, I was scared and nervous. The very first day, I had a lot of fun because we did a team building exercise. We played a game where you had to build a puzzle while being blindfolded. The people who weren’t blindfolded had to guide you so you could get everybody to one side. We had to use a long piece of wood and two blocks, which had to be balanced. This was an excellent activity because it helped to bring everyone together. Advice: Being in the Frederick Douglass Program is a great experience. You will also make friends through this program. You will go on trips that won’t break your pocket—only thing you may end up spending a lot of money on is if you decide to do any shopping. Also, this program will provide you with a easy transition from high school to college.
Name: LAKEISHA TAYLOR Reflection: When I first entered my freshman year, I wasn’t too happy about coming to school early for a living and learning community. I was already here during the summer and I wanted to spend more time with my friends and family back home. Nevertheless I still came on August 19.th I really like my mentor, Aleema. She always tries to include me on things that are going on around the campus. Advice: The Frederick Douglass Program is an excellent program that allows you to take advantage of everything they have to offer. You should definitely go to all of the events and trips that Freddy D has. You will have a mentor your first year who will keep you informed about events that Frederick Douglass is having.
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