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High School seniors in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s TRIO Upward Bound celebrated their graduation from the program during a dinner Friday, April 24, at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. 

“For many of you, going off to college will be one of the most important times in your life,” said Yusuf Haqq, who holds a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s in public administration, both from SIUC. Haqq was the keynote speaker at the dinner recognizing students and their families from the high school service areas: East St. Louis and Cahokia (EC) and Brooklyn, SIUE East St. Louis Charter and Madison (BEM). He is the chief executive officer of Universal Consulting Firm in St. Louis. 

“It’s not always the smartest who graduates, but the one who can stick to the plan and fight all the way through,” Haqq said. “You will have to fight every obstacle to reach your goal.”

 Haqq gave the soon-to-be high school graduates practical advice for navigating their college careers. Some of them included:

 Go to class

• Get organized
• Don’t procrastinate, everything is time sensitive
• Find the Career Services Office
• Take advantage of the student resources on campus
• Broaden your perspective and learn from different people and cultures
• Be prepared to feel overwhelmed – it’s natural 

Getting through the last four years of life was no easy feat for East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) senior Darrieal Clayton. “I have been an Upward Bound student for four years of my life,” said Clayton, whose remarks on the program quickly turned emotional. “I’ve had a difficult time. I’m happy for Upward Bound, because without it, I don’t know what would have happened to me. I could have just been hanging out on the streets or something.”  Clayton has a 3.0 GPA and 21 ACT score. She has been accepted and plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and pursue a degree in social work.

After the program, Clayton continued: “Upward Bound has provided me with an opportunity I wouldn’t have normally had, like participating in field trips to college campuses and attending the Bridge Program.” Upward Bound’s Bridge component bridges the gap between high school graduation and the start of a student’s college career. It pays for up to six credit hours of transferable college-level credits for students who are admitted into such courses and offers them  guidance and support to help transition into postsecondary education.

During Friday night’s dinner, Upward Bound seniors also received awards for academic success and other special recognitions, including receiving college scholarships.

During Friday’s night dinner, Upward Bound seniors received certificates acknowledging their hard work and preparation. The certificate denoted that each student was equipped to handle rigors of college based on program’s targeted areas of social, academic, financial literacy, career exploration, leadership and cultural enrichment (S.A.F.E.L.E).

Upward Bound Program Director Darryl Cherry complimented, motivated and challenged the students. “Congratulations on your high school graduations. It is an important first step,” Cherry said. “We have helped prepare you for college and success. If you can stand the rigors of college and get a degree, chances are you can stand the rigors of life.”

 “My charge to you,” Cherry added, “is to finish what we’ve started here in Upward Bound.”

Darryl Cherry, Upward Bound director, complimented, motivated and challenged the students. “Congratulations on your high school graduations. It is an important first step,” Cherry continued, “College is not so much about the pursuit of a degree as much as it is growing from the process of earning a degree.  College is a microcosm of life. If you can stand the rigors of college and get a degree, chances are you can stand the rigors of life.”

“We have helped prepare you not just to enter into college, but rather to achieve the dream of earning a college degree,” Cherry added. “My charge to you is to finish what we’ve started. Go get the degrees.”

Photo:

From left to right are Yusuff Haqq, keynote speaker at the SIUE Upward Bound senior dinner; and Upward Bound Program Director Darryl Cherry.

Pictured from left to right are Marq Quinn, Yusuff Haqq and Lynette James. Both students are seniors at SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School.