Leora Week 6: My Experience at Barnard's Pre-college Program

Over the summer I attended Barnard’s Young Women in Leadership College program.  The program took place on Barnard’s campus in New York and included many group excursions into the city. Over the summer I was able to collaborate with other high school students around the world; students came from Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Japan, and much more. I also became more acquainted with the city, meeting and interacting with women in workplaces throughout the Upper West Side to learn about the skills required to stand out in today’s workforce. 

This experience was very new to me. It was the first time I was surrounded by such a diverse group of people who were all participating in the program with similar intentions of learning and exploring leadership through a feminist lens. Personally, it felt empowering to be surrounded by such a driven and passionate group of women and I enjoyed getting to learn from various college professors and make connections with new friends from around the world. 

As I reflected on my summer after completing the program, I recognized the impact the program had on me and I wanted to share why I believe a college program of similar nature can be very beneficial to teenagers interested in going to college. As high school students, we are constantly discussing college; however, most of us have very little experience leaving our homes in an environment different from what we were used to with full autonomy over our day-to-day lives. At least for me personally, being on my own in a new city, opened my eyes to what college entails. It evoked a new level of responsibility and independence, with the city as my oyster. For the first time, I was able to not only learn important leadership skills but also explore my own independence and be part of something much bigger than myself. 

Have you ever taken time away from your home to do something on your own?