3 Big Things I Learned at KIPP

Marlene with her family on graduation day

By Marlene Salazar, Fordham University Class of 2014, KIPP Academy Middle Class of 2010

On Saturday, May 17, I graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. In the weeks before graduation, I reflected on the mountains I had to climb to get to this day. From attending summer classes for the first time as a fifth grader to tackling my final papers as a college senior, I have learned so much from KIPP, and my KIPP Team and Family has played such an important role in my journey. Here are 3 big things learned at KIPP:

1. Work hard. Be nice. Reach your goals.
Becoming a KIPPster really helped me get my education show on the road. I wanted to be part of a school that challenged me and to have teachers who believed in their students. Before KIPP, I was always bored in class and would get in trouble for working ahead or reading during a lesson.

Long hours, hard work, and summers spent in a classroom with my fellow KIPPsters really prepared me for the challenge of getting to and through college. I learned that working hard, being nice, and persevering would help me reach my goals. Because of the education I got at KIPP, I was given the opportunity to visit universities, cities, and states that would open doors to new experiences. One of the many memories I have from middle school is my 6th grade trip to Utah. It was a way to get all of us to step out of our comfort zone and experience new things like sleeping in tents, getting to know other KIPPsters in our grade, and going on many adventures that were not available in NYC.

KIPP has become a family affair. My sister is a junior at KIPP NYC College Prep and my younger cousin is a fifth grader at KIPP Washington Heights.

2. The Importance of Giving Back
I was able to return to KIPP Academy as an adult and give back to a place that taught me so much. I chaperoned three fifth grade end-of-year trips to DC and will chaperone my fourth at the end of the month. Each year I feel a strong connection to the students and to the teachers. I remember the older alumni that came on my KIPP trips with me when I was a student. They provided us with guidance and proof that we could all achieve our goals. I’m honored to be in that role as an adult, and it is fun to see myself transition from a student to a teacher as I get older.

3. KTC Always Had my Back
KIPP Through College (KTC), has had my back ever since I was looking at high schools. My KTC advisor helped me with the high school search, explained financial aid, and helped me find a part-time job. During the summer before my senior year of high school, KTC took me on a tour of Fordham University and since that moment I knew I was going to attend this school. Even though it was a 15-minute commute from my home, it felt like a home away from home and I felt welcomed.

My KTC advisor helped me through the college application process. When I applied for the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), a New York State program that helps disadvantaged students get the education they deserve, my advisor even went with me to the interview.

The KTC staff is always willing to help and listen to my struggles, accomplishments and goals. KTC Scholars, a program for KIPP alumni who attend college in New York City, provided me a space where I could do homework, study, and receive tutoring. KTC also hosts an Alumni Summit every year to give us the opportunity to network with people who work in all sorts of industries. Because of this networking event, I was able to land a marketing internship with the KIPP Foundation.

As I consider all the ways KIPP has played a major role in my life, I would like to thank some of the many teachers that helped me on this journey: Mr. Vance (my middle school principal) for giving me the opportunity to become a KIPPster; Mr. Brenner for being an awesome teacher and cheerleader, not only to me but to my younger sister; my KTC advisors, Mr. Robinson, Ms. Johnson, and Mr. Smith, for joining me on my journey to and through college.

Finally, to my fellow KIPPsters still on the climb, keep pushing forward because handing in your last final before graduation feels awesome. 🙂

 

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