The 2nd Home EOP Created for Me, Arielle Jernigan

There’s no place like home. Everybody knows there’s nothing like the comfort of your own space, your own room, and your own family at home. There’s no exact place like home, but EOP definitely come close to it. I used to be very worried about how would I “fit in” in college or where will I get help, but thanks to EOP, a lot of pressure was taken off of me. The EOP complex is where all of your resources lie; from family, to support, to academic advisors to computers and even tutors! Without EOP, I really don’t where I would be right now. EOP has a lot of resources that I have utilized throughout my stay here at SUNY Albany.

My advisor is Patrick Romain and his popularity heightens my ranks of success. Every time I visit him it can either go two ways. It’s either I meet someone new who can help me with my future or I learn something new that can help me with my future. One day, when I visited Patrick I spoke to him about my aspirations in life. As soon as I announced that I wanted to be a lawyer, he called up the lawyer on campus to see if he needed any interns this semester. He called this lawyer’s personal number and spoke to him about me becoming an intern. It happened so fast! This isn’t the only time Patrick has used his resources to help his student out. There has never been a time that I went to Patrick’s office and didn’t get the help that I needed. It brings that sense of comfort that you do have a support system away from home. To know that I have a counselor who is just as concerned with my future as I am makes me feel safe to be here. It makes me feel secure. I really do appreciate having Patrick as a counselor and being a part of EOP. Patrick has even introduced me to the Pre-Law advisor, a lawyer on campus, and even opportunities to meet lawyers. He has granted me with more than an opportunity to succeed in life but to feel protected and comforting in doing so.

EOP really and truly goes beyond academic support and help from counselors and advisors. EOP has other resources that are very helpful as well. They provide us with opportunities such as scholarships, tutors, and even trips all around the country. First semester of my sophomore year I went to a Law School Fair all the way in Boston and met with different law schools and law advisors. I had the opportunity to speak to them in reference to the LSATS, admissions, and even the highlights of each school I wanted to go to. The representatives were very helpful and they also helped me pave my pathway to being a lawyer. It made me feel like this is where I belong. I felt extremely grateful for having this opportunity to be able to travel all the way to Boston to be there. This would have never been able to happen if there was no such thing as EOP. This place is not only a college or just a university that I am enrolled in…it's a place where I can really and truly call my home AWAY from home.

My EOP Resources - More than what meets the Eye, Molly Silvanic

College is full of unexpected stress and unwanted dilemmas. There are fights with new and old friends, disagreements with teachers, and problems life faces us with. But EOP is prepared for that. EOP sets their students up to succeed in the worst circumstances. Not only does EOP prepare us for college but EOP prepares us for life before, during, and after college. 
EOP provides us with counselors who are always available, not just for advice or help with our classes and grades, but also to be there for us to talk to about anything from family and friends to money and health. Our counselors assist us all throughout our college careers, not just only the two years like traditional students. They become our mentors and our family, they always have our back. When our grades start getting bad, we have a tutoring office where we can receive free tutoring from other EOP students. 
These tutors never judge us, but rather assist us in learning and mastering whatever subject we need help in. During midterms and finals weeks, they set up study groups to help us do the best we can and give us every assistant we need to pass. EOP is a family that provides us with all the assistance we need, to become the college students that Albany never thought we were. EOP allows us to be a better students and better people than we ever thought we could be.