A Love that I Never Known, Molly Silvanic

"Never fear anything but fear itself", was the quote that I was raised by. But fear never scared me, fear was just an emotion that I could allow myself to feel by watching a scary movie or walking down a dark alley. I could do something dangerous and feel fear without even trying. But what I feared, most in the world was love. I was terrified of love but yet I longed for it. I couldn’t make myself feel love. I can love myself and I do. I can love others and I’ve tried, but there is no way that I can allow my heart to feel loved by someone else.
My whole life I never knew what real love felt like. I knew what liking someone felt like But love was the one thing that I never understood. After being adopted, I longed for love. Love was my drug and I was addicted but it was being addicted to something you’d never tried. I wanted the to feel the perfect movie star love where everything always worked out, I wanted to feel the family love where a family would love you unconditionally, and I wanted to feel the everything love where someone would love me every morning, everyday, and every night. And I finally did. My love has a name, and it’s name is EOP. It’s an indescribable love. And all the years I had to wait to find it, was worth it. The way it feels to be able to have a home away from home, with counselors, friends, a second family that will support me and inspire me everyday makes life so much easier. EOP has shown me through giving me my chance to shine that I can be a star. EOP has inspired me to be a deans list student and to prevail no matter what situation and when I feel like I need to give up, EOP had been there.
EOP has shown me love by giving me my second chance in college, giving me the support system and soldiers to help me fight the obstacles and not give up no matter the conequences. The only way I know how to thank EOP is by not giving up because the moment I take a break or give up everything EOP and I have worked for, I am letting myself, my family, and my future down. All EOP asks of every one of their students is one hundred percent and EOP deserves success, EOP deserves a future because EOP is helping me shape my future. Success will be my middle name, along with hardwork and dedication because of the love I have found with my new family, EOP.

Love = EOP, Molly Silvanic

What is love?
Love is a feeling of acceptance, support, emotion, and trust.
What is EOP?
EOP is a family of dedication, support, devotion, and assurance.
EOP is my love.
Not the romantic love where you live happily ever after,
But the everyday love where I am able to have a home away from home,
A place where I can walk in and feel accepted and loved
Because everyone in that complex has dedication, admiration, and a devotion towards their students.
In EOP I am more than just a number or option for the future, I am a priority, I am the future. 
EOP asks nothing in return except for my love, and I do that by excelling in everything I can, giving 100 percent everyday and continuing the legacy that accepted me the day I became an EOP college student.
Love and EOP are the same thing
EOP is my love

That EOP Love, Anita Ames

I knew it was love when I walked through those doors
It was a love that could never be forgotten
It was soft
But stern
A love that never turned its back
One that without a doubt, is always there
This love has provided for me
Through good times
And, even the worst of times
We share together a special element amongst ourselves
One that many, don’t understand
The love that bonds us together
The love that makes us strong
Without this love, I’d probably be lost
Be lost, looking for my way
Trying to decide which impulse to follow
Which road to take but
Its support has guided me
Its determination has inspired me
This love transformed my life
Through my words I yearn to carry on the legacy
The horizons this love has granted me, will be the stepping stone
To what lies in my community
Supplying a way out!
This love is a gift, a precious gem

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.

Monica Anchundia - Never Give Up

One late afternoon back in high school, I sat in my math class with a face that clearly showed that I was ready to quit. I felt like breaking down and crying. I just wanted to put my head down because I was so frustrated with myself. I was  trying so hard to figure out the right answer, I did the dumbest thing I could do, I gave up. I closed my math books and just sat thinking how dumb I was and how much I hated math. At that moment, I did not think about my actions thoroughly. I just didn’t care. I never thought that there would come a summer where my imaginary relationship between math and myself would change.

This past summer I had one of the most unforgettable experiences ever. I would have never thought I would say this but I had a great time in math class during the EOP program. Math is my weakness and it has haunted me for the last 5 years, but this summer everything changed. I tend to give up and feel dumb when I do not understand something, but during the summer, I did not give up at once. I came into EOP afraid and worried about math but I promised myself that I would practice, not give up, and try my best. I would go to office hours every single day and if I did not understand a math problem, I would sit there for hours and hours until I finally got the right answer. I also had a great teacher who helped me a lot. He always had words of encouragement and motivation to tell me. He always used to tell me that I should realize that even though I thought my math skills were horrible, I had to look on the bright side. He made me realize that my determination would take me far, not just in math but  in life. I have never seen myself trying so hard to improve in something. I was so amazed and proud of myself because I worked so hard that math was beginning to bring me a feeling of satisfaction and a big smile.

At the end of the EOP summer program, I felt different about the way I looked at my schoolwork. I will no longer allow any weaknesses to bring me down. I worked so hard during the summer in my math class that I received the most improved math award. Maybe that award did not mean a lot to many people, but to me it meant everything. It was so precious to me because I never thought that I would receive an award in math since I was so bad at it. My math award symbolized my hard work and determination and that’s what matters the most. I realized that I am not dumb but that there are areas in math where I need to apply myself just a little bit more. I have never been so proud of myself. I am feeling more confident than ever because now I know what to do when I need help in any class. I learned to never give up on myself and to work my hardest because my confidence will lead me far in life.

A Word from your Editor

Take a second to think about what EOP has done for you in the time you have been in college. 
Academic and moral support?
 A chance to earn a higher education and succeed? 
A chance to change the mind of people who shoot us down? 
A chance to change the world? 
Think about where you would be if it wasn't for EOP. In this blog, we will show (not just tell) what EOP, its staff and scholars are all about. In this blog we want to show the outside world that EOP is not all that meets the eye. We are more than a book stipend, a couple good grants and a 3 week summer program, now lets show who and what we really are. Lets show what EOP stands for.




"....Inspired by Truth, delivered by Education"
Proud to be EOP!