As part of their applications to participate in the Rutgers Future Scholars Program, prospective students submitted personal statements in response to this question: “What do you think are the challenges students in your community face in preparing for college and their future?”
Below are excerpts from some of their statements.
“Students in my community face crimes, peer pressure to join gangs, teenage pregnancy and broken homes. … Violence is always one corner away. Last summer three college students were senselessly murdered in the playground of my school over their cell phones. As a student, I face these situations every day in my community and I have vowed not to let them keep me from succeeding in school.”
– Female eighth-grader from Newark
“One of the main challenges that students face is their financial problems and the drug problems in their community. Some kids want the college education so badly that they get sucked into the streets so they can pay for college, but just can’t stop selling drugs. … It is hard for kids to resist their environment so it’s like they’re trapped.”
– Male eighth-grader from Camden
“Many intelligent people can’t go to college just because they don’t have enough money. That’s why I am happy the Rutgers Future Scholars Program was created, so that people like that can still go to college.”
– Female eighth-grader from New Brunswick
Media Contact: Sandra Lanman
732-932-7084 ext. 621
E-mail: slanman@ur.rutgers.edu