On Thursday, the Ivy League Connection gathered in the El Cerrito High School Library for orientation. At the orientation, we sat with our cohort as we received our packing checklist and itinerary. While I listened to Mr. Ramsey, Mrs. Kronenberg, Don, and Mr. Rhea talk, my excitement increased as I looked forward to leaving for the Big Apple.
This won't be my first time travelling east. In seventh grade I was nominated to attend a People to People leadership summit in our nation’s capitol, Washington D.C. The one week I spent in D.C. visiting landmarks and museums was one of my favorite weeks yet. Not only did I get to meet students my age from around the world, but I got to listen to keynote speeches from very successful people.
While I'm in New York, I'll have the honor to work with top-notch students from around the world, tour colleges, and do sightseeing in the Big Apple. Sounds like People to People? It does. However, there are several key differences that distinguish the Ivy League Connection and make the ILC superior to People to People. Though smaller in size, the ILC allow students to reach out to college admissions officers, arrange meetings, and talk to those who may be reading our applications whereas in People to People members get to listen to an admissions officer at best.
While People to People hosts programs at prestigious universities such as Stanford and Harvard, the ILC allows us to spend three weeks at world renown institutions and study in classes taught by college professors. These differences are ultimately what is making me more and more excited as I prepare to leave for the east coast and an amazing three weeks.
Eric,
ReplyDeleteI kept reading about how excited you are and then I look at the photos from the orientation and can easily see the excitement on your face--NOT. I know, you're keeping it bottled up inside so you don't worry the adults. :-)