Bernadine: Finding Their Way…
Crystal & Jasmine: Making it Happen…
Robert: Learning from Each Other…
Cameron: Change is Coming…Learning from Each Other
Robert describes his first semester of college as an “eye-opener” both for him and the community he now belongs to. He plans to major in Communication Studies and has especially enjoyed his classes in philosophy and the deep conversations that occur in the classroom. He feels free to share his perspectives on issues, including race, and he has found that open discussion can bring clarity to his own and others' misconceptions. “Some people think we don't have fathers in our households, but we do. And I was thinking that if you were white, you had someone rich in your family who was helping you out, but that's not the case,” he says. “We're sharing our thoughts and experiences and people are very open and accepting.”
Tall and sleepy-eyed, Robert describes himself as “talkative, opinionated, helpful and polite” and as someone to whom others turn for relationship advice. He grew up in a protected environment within the city with parents who sheltered him and his siblings from danger. “I was a shy kid, scared to do things,” he says, adding that he's learned to be more assertive. He feels grateful to be a Progressive Scholar and wants to reciprocate in any way he can. “I like to be there if I'm needed. I was given this scholarship, and I feel responsible for giving back.”
Just as he and his fellow scholars bring perspectives born of urban environments to the community, Robert is often surprised by and learns from students and faculty whose backgrounds can differ radically from his own. While Chicago is home to many different cultures, Robert has rarely been exposed to the cultures of Northern New England or to those of Colby-Sawyer's international students. “I've learned that being at a school where people are very different, where they don't look like me, doesn't mean they don't understand me,” he says. “Having the opportunity to see different people and different lifestyles makes me feel confident in myself. I feel I can do anything.”
Cameron Knight, a member of the second group of Progressive Scholars recruited from Cambridge Rindge Latin School, moves easily among many different peer groups. He grew up in the city and chose Colby-Sawyer in part to free himself from distractions that might interfere with his studies. An athlete and entrepreneur, Cameron hopes to pursue a degree in Sport Management, with minors in Business Administration and Communication Studies.
Cameron and a friend started a small business in high school and now he works for a startup AAU baseball team, the Saugus Silverhawks, as chief marketing officer and director of business. “I've always been an entrepreneur and am constantly looking for ways to start a business,” he says. “I can't see myself working from 9 to 5.”
When he needed to develop a marketing plan for the team, he sought out Business Administration Assistant Professor Bill Spear, who teaches marketing, for advice. As they met for the first time, Professor Spear became enthusiastic about Cameron's work and spent more than two hours showing him how to put the plan together.
Cameron is proud of his role as a Progressive Scholar in raising funds for the people of Haiti and bringing more diversity to the college. His interest in Communication Studies stems in part from his participation in the struggles among the scholars over how to structure their program and organize their events. “All of us are leaders and we really head-butted a lot,” he says. “We're all outspoken and will need to find better ways to communicate.”
Next, Cameron wants to get more involved in helping others like him make it into college. “As someone who's made it to college without anyone guiding me, it's important to me to make it a lot easier for other inner city kids,” he says.
