Upward Bound students must be determined to be successful in their academic, personal, and social endeavors. Regardless of the obstacles and challenges that you might face, the mental outlook you obtain must stretch above and beyond your current circumstances. Stretching causes one to be pulled forth, lengthen, or drawn out. It can be a painful process; however, the end result is accomplished. Stretching your mental outlook can cause you to see yourself as “somebody special” when others may dictate the opposite. Stretching your mental outlook will allow you to view yourself as a college graduate even if you’ve repeated a class or grade in high school.

Many successful athletes, sholars, and musicians have been stretched beyond their limitations. Michael Phelps was raised by a single mom and viewed as an average student in school; yet, today he has received eight Olympic gold medals. Stevie Wonder was born blind and sent to a school for the blind; however, he is one of the most accomplished musicians. His music speaks as one who has vividly seen the wonders of the world. W.E.B. Dubois was the first black man to graduate from Harvard with his PH.D; he was also one of the co-creators of the NAACP, and graduate of Fisk University. Yet, with all of his accomplishments, the obstacles he faced is seen from the following quote: "One ever feels his twoness—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder."

In order to help you maintain a positive mental outlook, we will be utilizing Sean Covey's Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens. In each newsletter, we will publish material from his book. Below are seven habits that will hopefully stretch your mental process concerning your academic, social, and personal endeavors.

HABIT 1: Be Proactive Take responsibility for your life.

HABIT 2: Begin with an End in Mind Define your mission and goals in life.

HABIT 3: Put First Things First. Prioritize, and do the most important things first.

HABIT 4: Think Win-Win Have an everyone-can-win attitude.

Habit 5: See First to Understand, Then to be Understood Listen to people sincerely.

Habit 6: Synergize Work together to achieve more.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw Renew yourself regularly.

*Taken from Sean Covey's Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens

Your future lies within your hands. How others receive you lies within how you perceive yourself. Compared to your ancestors, you are blessed with insurmountable advantages and opportunities. As your Academic Counselor, I am committed to helping you achieve your goals of graduating high school and receiving a college education. Together let us stretch our imaginations in order to come up with the best possible tools and opportunities that will positively shape your future!

Upward Bound students and parents are responsible for making sure that I receive their grades, progress report, and other important academic information such as CATS scores, ACT, PLAN, and/or EXPLORE scores on the expected due date.

*Receiving information on a later date or not at all can result in loss of student privileges.

Saturday Sessions attendance is mandatory; failure to attend will result in loss of stipend and other privileges.

Students must maintain at least a 2.5 in order to remain in the Upward Bound program.

Students are required to attend either Upward Bound or school tutoring if their grades fall below a 2.5 or if they receive below a C in any subject area.

Students are required to attend Upward Bound club sessions at their schools.

Counselor will meet with each student during the year for one on one counseling.