Tamara is a Senior who loves exploring NYC, dissecting animals at the University of Michigan, and wants to meet Brandon Stanton.
Q: What do you like most about Minds Matter?
Tamara: I like that in Minds Matter, they really keep you on track and prepared for what’s ahead. As much as Writing & Critical Thinking and Test Prep may be a pain, at the end of the day it makes me stronger; not only academically but also as a person. You really see your results, and these are things you can’t get in a classroom.
Q: Where did you go for your Summer Program? What did you learn?
Tamara: I went to the University of Michigan, where I took a Human Anatomy course. The best part was dissecting multiple animals as a way of studying parts of the body. Being in an environment that college students live and work in taught me what I need to do to succeed in a college setting and college classes. What surprised me most was that it never felt like you were alone. You’d think to yourself, “this is going to be super awkward; I don’t have my parents here to help me or tell me what to do,” but being a part of a group of students who are in the same program as you helps you learn how to depend on people other than your family. As a high school student, we don’t get a lot of that.
Q: What would you tell a freshman who was interested in applying for Minds Matter?
Tamara: I think I would tell them that it’s so, so, so worth it. It’s going to be hard, and as a teenager we are going to complain, but the second you walk into college, you’re going to be so happy you did it. It makes you feel accomplished. You see your growth, and throughout the program, you have all this assistance, and all of these people who have the knowledge you need. Minds Matter is a great resource for opportunities: whatever you need help with, you can get help with. It’s not just focused on one thing. Each person gets individual attention; it’s a tailored education.
Q: Where is your favorite place in NYC? Why?
Tamara: I actually don’t have a favorite place in NYC. After I joined Minds Matter, I was exposed to different areas of the city. The program shows you that every single block in Manhattan has something to offer. Anyone can do anything here. For this reason, I don’t have a favorite place, because every time I go somewhere new, I fall in love with another place to discover.
Q: If you could have dinner with one famous person, who would it be and why?
Tamara: I would have dinner with Brandon Stanton from “Humans of New York” because I feel like he’s one of those celebrities whose product is a celebrity, rather than himself. He’s from New York and he meets all these different people every single day. I would ask him questions like: On what level has the diversity of New York City influenced you?
Interview by Jenny Lance, Writing & Critical Thinking Advisor
Support students like Tamara. Donate today!