Life
By Katie Sullivan
|
August 25, 2003
Myra Franklin knows how much work it takes on the part of how many people to get a kid all the way through school and into college.
"I'm cognizant of the fact that I didn't get here by myself," Franklin said.
The fourth-year College student and president of the Black Student Alliance says she was fortunate to have friends and role models who gave her guidance as she grew up.
Now she is taking advantage of an opportunity to return the favor: The University Community Relations Office's "Day in the Life" program.
The program pairs students at Charlottesville's Buford Middle School who show the academic potential to reach college with University students who are eager to help them get there.
Through spending time with these college students and getting an idea of what college life is like, the program hopes to inspire middle schoolers to stay on the academic track they need through high school to get into college.
The program is also an inspiration for many of the volunteers.
"I'm happy knowing that someone is going to achieve more than they would have, just from being in contact with me," Franklin said.
Loren Intolube-Chmil and Marlene Lewis, two Americorps volunteers who work with the program through Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), both said they are similarly inspired by their commitment to kids.
Lewis is a retired District of Columbia educator.
