When I heard that I was going on a trip to Northern California to explore colleges with my Step Up sisters, I was ecstatic! I had never been to Northern California or on a road trip before, so I remember packing my bags for the week and asking the other girls what they were taking just to be sure that I did not forget anything.
The morning we were leaving on the trip, my mom accompanied me to my school to drop me off and say good-bye. When she drove me into the parking lot, I saw the giant charter bus and other parents ready to say good-bye to their daughters, but the experience didn’t become real for me until I loaded my luggage onto the bus. It was then that it hit me that I was going to visit the schools that I’d be applying to within the next few months.
At the time, I didn’t know what to expect when we set off, but looking back at the experience, I’ve found that I continue to carry many of my memories from the trip with me today. Going on the College Tour helped me realize the possibility of going to a school away from home and be okay with that. I owe much of where I am now to Step Up and their college tour! Before the trip I didn’t even know that the University of San Francisco existed, yet now I am in my second year at the University of San Francisco double majoring in Media Studies and Advertising with a minor in Spanish.
I remember each college visit distinctly, but most especially my visit to USF. It was fairly overcast and sprinkling, nothing new for Northern California, when we arrived at the campus. We had to trudge up several flights of stairs, which I now know add up to about 142 steps, and I kept thinking to myself “What kind of campus has all these stairs?” But once we reached the top the view was so rewarding! I could see nearly the entire city of San Francisco. We were met there by Stephanie, a Step Up alumna, who shared her story, showed us around campus and even took us into her dorm hall, which is where I live today.
After the College Tour, I decided that USF was my favorite school that we had visited, and I applied there later that year. Once I received the notification that I was accepted, I was so excited! It brought back memories of the tour and when I was on campus.
Before making a final decision to attend USF, I turned to Stephanie, who, by that time, had graduated and become a Step Up after-school programs instructor for guidance and support. I remember meeting with her after school and asking her a million questions. She told me everything I needed to know --- the best hall to live in, the resources on campus, and information about the city. Her excitement about the school made me excited, and it was on that day that I decided to attend the University of San Francisco.
It’s because of the support and network of Step Up that I was able to confidently make my college decision, and the Bay Area College Tour inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and apply to schools away from home. Whenever the group comes to my campus, I happily volunteer to show them my school! And now, from the perspective of a Step Up alumna, I get to see the girls’ amazement with the city and hear about their dreams to pursue higher education. I’m so proud to be a part of Step Up!
