College Summit is an organization focused on giving low-income students the tools they need to get into college, partnering with schools around the country to promote a college-going environment in their communities. Over the summers, College Summit holds four-day workshops for partnership school students at multiple college campuses. The workshops serve the students in a variety of ways, creating camaraderie with other college-bound students, giving them their first taste of college campus life, as well as functioning as a sort of college prep boot camp with college counseling, financial aid 101s, and personal statement writing help.

The writing help is conducted via small writing groups lead by a volunteer writing coach, which is the position I volunteered for last summer. I came into the workshop with minimal teaching experience and no personal statement experience beside my own college application. College Summit more than prepares the writing coaches with a short, but thorough training session on their method of personal statement writing and the support of an expert writing coach coordinator.

Over the course of the workshop, the writing coaches meet with their student groups several times. Each student leaves the workshop with a well-crafted application essay and, I know I’m about to sound super cheesy here, but each writing coach leaves with something special too. There’s a very real reward in getting to know your writing students, working with them to shape their personal statements, and being a small part of their path toward a significant accomplishment.

If you’re looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity and have four days to spare this summer, I’d definitely recommend signing up as a writing coach for College Summit. Register at their volunteer page to find a weekend workshop close to you. You’ll love it and at this time next year, you’ll be the pushy one encouraging all of your friends and even Internet strangers to get involved.

Post from: Crushable

Jordin had some sobering statistics to share in the video.  Among them:

• 37 million Americans live in poverty
• 50% of kids in inner-city schools don’t graduate
• 15 million children need mentors
• Millions are struggling because of the economic downturn

She also encourages everyone to go to USAservice.org and sign up “to receive messages about other service opportunities and experiences in the future.”  Sounds like a great plan!

Post from: Crushable