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DIFFERENT VOICES: The Experiences of Women of Color at Barnard
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ADVICE FROM BIG SISTERS
"First, definitely take advantage of the shopping period and make sure that you like the class material and the professor. I would have definitely dropped a class or two had I really shopped around for better classes. Also, I would advise to join at least one extra curricular activity group like a club or caucus. There are a lot of clubs that don't require too much of your time and are a fun way to meet people that are interested in similar things as you."
— Kimberlynn Acevedo '10
"Simply ask because with HEOP you will find your answer."
— Keesandra Agenor '10
"We were all once seniors in high school. So what's to stop us from becoming seniors in college? The answer to that question is, of course, nothing. It is the beginning of a new food chain, and all we are is starting from the bottom and working our way up to the top for a greater education; forming new relationships along the way with people who care about us and our goals. In the long run, it's worth the whole 110 percent of the effort we put in."
— Cynthia Cessant '10
"There's a lot to do at Barnard and a lot of support for when you want it and need it. All you have to do is ask. HEOP has been my first experience at Barnard, and it was very eye opening, just as the 3 years at Barnard so far has shown me more about life than I've known previously. "
— Hui Tin Ho '08
"To all the newcomers do not be afraid to take risks and make mistakes. Time will pass by, so take the opportunities before you and explore your interests. In terms of academics, they require dedication, but exhaustion will only hurt you. Enjoy your time and prepare to become part of the Barnard Community."
— Sabrina Lopez '10
"As tempting as it is to stick to the friends you made during the intensive summer program, don't be afraid to branch out and make new ones. Don't be over-confident because you have some knowledge about campus that others might not. Once classes start, make a to do list with your daily schedule and STICK to it because its easy to be fooled into thinking you have free time, but you always have homework, let it be reading, writing, or reviewing. And lastly make sure you ENJOY yourself, which will be easier to do if you follow the schedule you set for yourself. GOOD LUCK!"
— Ybelka Medina '08
"Barnard is the best college that you could have chosen. It has given me more than I can express. Never have I felt this welcome in any institution. Not only has financial aid been extremely helpful in getting me through college, but also an Ivy League at that. The advisors and professors have always been there when I needed them. And I am not only saying this to make Barnard look good. You will know as the year goes by. I couldn't be any happier in any other college. Please ask questions, always. You will always get an answer."
— MR '10
"The competition is tough, but keep your head in the game and don't be distracted too much with the new college lifestyle. Otherwise, you'll have to pay for it in the future!"
— Amela Redzic '08
"I would first say that you should get to know the campus. Be familiar with all the buildings and offices. Next, I would say that it also helps to be familiar with the professors. Be comfortable with them because they can help if you find yourself struggling. Next, the HEOP office is your best tool. They can help clear up any issue and also provide you with books and tutoring. Attend all your classes because the only one that loses is you. Do all assignments and participate because those are bonus points. Lastly, the tunnel is and will be your best friend!"
— Alina Rodriguez '09
"My first semester at Barnard was a highly challenging one; I was always told by high school teachers that college would be different and a lot would be asked from a student...and they were correct. My papers in English were returned with remarks by my professor on every inch of the paper. The information covered in my biology lectures was so dense and detailed that it felt useless for me to have taken AP Biology in high school. By the end of my first semester I felt that it was a mistake for me to have chosen Barnard because I did not feel that I had the potential to thrive in this kind of challenging academic environment. However, the coming semester, I not only received moral support from my academic adviser but also academic help from the writing center, my biology TAs and the math center. I continued to make use of such resources at Barnard, which enabled me to not only improve my GPA but also study abroad at Oxford University my junior year. By the end of the first spring semester, I felt that I could not have grown this much academically at any other institution other than Barnard. Hence, although it was difficult for me to find my place in such a prestigious institution, I was indeed able to find it with help from my Professors, TA's and my academic adviser, Dean Blank."
— Aqsa Shakoor '08
"Make sure you eat healthy and get your day's rest. By finals week, all you're going to want to do is sleep. Take advantage of all the resources that Barnard has to offer! It's exponentially amazing! Everyone at Barnard is welcoming and very friendly so you'll find yourself right at home."
— Alyssa Taussig '09
"Do not get discouraged. This will lead to low grades and low motivation. There are so many ways to succeed. There are a lot of people and groups that are willing and available to help you out, whether academically or emotionally. Also, mediocre work will not get you anywhere. Just passing is not acceptable. We have to work hard, especially us HEOP scholars that come from minority or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We have to surpass all obstacles, as cliché as this may sound."
— Joeli Velasco '10
"College is real. Here, you will learn so much about the world in this tiny Barnard community and more importantly, you will learn so much more about yourself. This will be the place where all of your values, morals, and beliefs will consolidate into One and form You. Stay true to what you believe in; study what you enjoy most. Don't be afraid to venture out of your normal school subjects, you never know what you'll fall in love with. (e.g.: I went from studying Political Science to Economics and finally, East Asian History!) Don't waste your summers: intern, intern, intern! You won't know what you want to do post-College if you've never experienced it. There will always be free food somewhere on campus! Get INVOLVED with CLUBS. You'll make plenty of friends, but only a handful will be loyal. It's okay if you come across people who aren't real, that's just life and the game we have to play. So buck-up, soldier, go out and NETWORK! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em (but don't ever forget where you came from!)"
— Dora Yu '08
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WHAT THE HEOP SCHOLARS PROGRAM MEANS TO ME
"The HEOP/BOP program serves as a resource for valuable academic assistance, as well as personal and emotional support that very few other programs can offer. The office is a true on-campus sanctuary with its welcoming counselors and helpful staff."
— Kimberlynn Acevedo '10
"HEOP to me means that nothing could stand in your way of your dreams if you want to make them a reality. When I first started the application to find some possible way to pay for a great education that I knew my family couldn't possibly afford, I had no idea that the HEOP summer was going to help me with so much more. In the program, I got the resources that I needed to change what I could about my education, which was my outlook on college life, my outlook on the new community that I was about to join, and my outlook on life in general. I got the opportunity to meet a great group of young women, like myself, from all across New York, New Jersey, and California, who were determined to succeed and beat great odds. I learned about different cultures, different learning styles, different ways to relieve stress, and most importantly how all these differences could bring a group of students together and help them to grow in the process. It was a great experience and if I could go back I wouldn't change a thing."
— Keesandra Agenor '10
"HEOP is my family away from home, where I go to get all my questions answered at anytime or just to talk because they really care."
— Melissa Brito '10
"HEOP means Helping Everyone Open their eyes to new Possibilities. That's not exactly what it actually stands for, but from what I have observed and when participating in the program, it means exactly that."
— Cynthia Cessant '10
"HEOP is warm, inviting and supportive. They're there throughout the years of my education at Barnard and they're always there to help. I'm glad to have been admitted as a HEOP Scholar and proud to be one."
— Hui Tin Ho '08
"HEOP is a community on campus, which is accepting of differences and provides opportunities to take part in the community campus wide. It is a place, which is a source of wisdom and aid. In the bureaucracy that is Barnard and Columbia University as a whole, it enables individuals with tools and the channels for whatever may come the way of the individual."
— Sabrina Lopez '10
"To me HEOP means a place I can go to relax, take console, and just be myself. I know that no matter the situation, in there I can find people that without question I will be able to connect to, let it be economically, socially, or ethnically. It is a place I don't have to be scared to be myself."
— Ybelka Medina '08
"HEOP means an extended family. The friends I have made in HEOP have been my family through out my first year. They are always there and they understand you better than anyone else. Don't break your bonds with them. You are a precious group."
— MR '10
"HEOP is a nice break. It’s like a short little vacation during the busy school year. HEOP is also a program that eases the beginning for you. You come in and already know 30 other women the first day of school. You can’t beat that!"
— Amela Redzic '08
"HEOP has given me a real chance. They have allowed me to attend my dream school. Not only have they made it possible for me to attend Barnard, they have also given me the tools to succeed and believe in myself. They have created a small family for us where we can find support. I am forever grateful to HEOP for giving me this opportunity."
— Alina Rodriguez '09
"To me HEOP is a program that aids economically disadvantaged individuals in not only obtaining an education at prestigious academic institutions such as Barnard, but also in aiding them to realize and reach their full potential as students. Without HEOP, my parents would never have been able to afford to send me to Barnard or allow me to study abroad for an entire academic year at Oxford University in England. HEOP aided my parents in paying for my college education and also helped me fulfill my potential as a student by providing free courses before beginning my education at Barnard to give me an equal platform to start my college career with other incoming first-years. HEOP maintained their support throughout my years at Barnard by showing concern when I was not doing well in my courses and then helping me to do better by providing tutors. HEOP advisers have always held their doors open for me to talk about any problems and not just those that are academically related. They have always held our best interests at heart and have thus made HEOP students into a family."
— Aqsa Shakoor '08
"HEOP means an opportunity for personal change and societal transformation."
— Ebonie Smith '07
"When I saw how much Barnard's tuition was, I was very reluctant to apply. HEOP has granted me an opportunity that I will always be thankful for—and that is an opportunity to be a strong, beautiful, and proud Barnard woman."
— Alyssa Taussig '09
"What does HEOP mean to me? Wow, HEOP is one of the greatest blessings that I have received. HEOP is here to support me academically and financially. It minimizes the vast amount of worries and struggles that would be present if HEOP were not aiding us. It allows us to concentrate on our schoolwork and ensures us success (this is, of course, if we want to accept it and take advantage of it)."
— Joeli Velasco '10
"-->HEOP is:
a success
a necessity
and of course: my reminder.
A lot of times I stop and say, wow, I'm really really here. Who would have thought I would leave the Lower East Side tenements to venture uptown to brownstone buildings, organic grocery stores, and attend a college like Barnard? We can leave out the brownstones and organic food, but being at Barnard has been the best thing that's ever happened to me, and without HEOP, I would have never been given the chance to prove myself. With this opportunity, I am ready to take on the world and prove to everyone that I am more than what meets the eye. More than a minority, more than one with financial need…I am a woman. A HEOP Barnard Woman."
— Dora Yu '08
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