Moving Up
by Krystn Shrieve

Stephanie Dang arrived in the United States from Vietnam three years ago, a small, scared 13-year-old who didn't speak a word of English. Fitting in at her new high school in San Diego was a daily exercise in overwhelming anxiety — so much so that the teen-ager couldn't stand the thought of doing it all over again in college. Dang, who immigrated with her family, assumed if she could just scrape by and manage to finish high school, she'd settle for a career flipping burgers.

But her life changed when she joined USD's Upward Bound program, which prepares low-income, disabled and first-generation college students at San Diego's Kearny High School for post-secondary education. Now, the high school junior looks forward to going to college, studying abroad and becoming a pharmacist.

"When I first came to the United States, I couldn't even say 'how are you' in English," says Dang. "I was afraid of the big high school campus, and the students seemed so tall. I didn't think I'd make any friends.

"But Upward Bound is good for me," she says. "The tutors help me with English, math and history. They prepare me for tests and teach me step-by-step how to get into college."

Dang is among 50 students selected through an application and interview process to join USD Upward Bound, one of 700 such programs nationwide. The chapter started in 1999, and this year 25 Upward Bound high school seniors, who started with the program as freshmen, applied to colleges and universities. There are 11 USD hopefuls in the group.

"The biggest change I see in these students is confidence," says Upward Bound Director Jocbethem Tahapary '92 (M.Ed. '94). "We give them the self-esteem to see that college isn't an intangible dream, but a reality."

With volunteers drawn from the School of Education and the community, Upward Bound offers high school students academic tutoring and twice-monthly Saturday academies on writing, grammar and literature. The academies also incorporate conflict mediation, career planning and assistance with college applications and financial aid forms.

The most exciting component, however, is the month-long summer residential program, in which the teen-agers live in USD residence halls, get a feel for campus life and take courses to get a jump start on their high school classes. The summer program also offers field trips to other universities and
cultural spots like the Getty Museum and the Museum of Tolerance in
Los Angeles.

During the school year, the high schoolers pair up with members of USD's Mortar Board honor society to get an up-close glimpse of the college experience. USD senior Kasey Henrickson, who majors in English and minors in psychology, recently took high school junior Giovanna Lopez to several classes, between which they chatted over burgers at the Torero Grille. The two talked about social and academic aspects of campus life, and the transition from high school to college.

"Before joining Upward Bound, I wanted to go to a community college," Lopez says. "But now, I want to go to a four-year university and live in a dorm. I know I'll have to be more responsible, get my first part-time job and solve my own problems. Upward Bound prepared me to cope with everything I'll have to face."

Tahapary and his staff recently submitted a proposal to extend the federally sponsored program through 2007, and to expand it to 100 students.

"It's great to be with a student when they have that 'ah-ha' moment and realize they can do it," Tahapary says. "I'm lucky to have been with 30 or 40, and we want to see it happen more."

Katie Ferris-Alpigini, the program's assistant director and curriculum coordinator, is awed by what students like Stephanie Dang accomplish.

"Stephanie is the one of the most phenomenally hard-working students I've ever met," Ferris-Alpigini says. "She struggles with English, yet she passed intermediate algebra with nothing but grit and determination. I'm amazed at her resilience, and wish I could have half the perseverance she has."

Then there's high school senior David Ramos, who realized during a campus field trip that he wanted to go to college.

"He couldn't stop talking about going to college and living in the dorms," Tahapary recalls. "Now, he's tenacious, and has gone out of his way to sit down with us to fill out applications."

Oscar Otanez '01, who is working toward a master's degree in leadership studies, has been involved with Upward Bound for four years. This year, he helped the seniors fill out their college admissions and financial aid applications.

"At this point they're thinking, 'OK, now that I've applied to college, how am I going to pay for it?' " Otanez says. "I let them know there are lots of options - scholarships, grants, financial aid and work-study. They know we'll help them find a way."