Letter

February 29, 2012

New York State

Albany, NY 12222

Dear Legislator,

                My hunger to reach my dreams drives me to write this letter to you, in hopes that you will pay attention to the things that lead to a better tomorrow for minority students like myself. The Educational Opportunities Program (EOP) at the University at Albany, is one of the many programs that can help students look forward to a better and to a more promising future. This program has been the most beneficial opportunity in my life. I have been able to get keen insights from my director, many counselors, and other professional staff about what I can do in order to have a better tomorrow for my family, my community, and myself. I have also been able to turn many weaknesses into strengths. And I have been able to grow as an individual in a higher education community.

When I started the college application process, I didn’t know anything about college; I didn’t know what college was like, I didn’t know what classes to pick for my first semester and I didn’t know who to turn to for help. EOP was there to help me as I struggled. In high school I had a decent average, but I didn’t have the perfect SAT’s score. If I didn’t have an opportunity like EOP, many colleges would’ve turned me down since I did not fit the criteria of a traditional student.

I am very thankful about where I come from and the many things I learned in high school, however I was still underprepared for college. This in fact, did not leave me hopeless. EOP gives me the opportunity to obtain a college education, counseling and tutoring services in order to improve my skills in areas that need reinforcement. EOP gives me the opportunity to enter a good university and excel. It is an academic and goal oriented program, in which I have been able to grow as an individual.

This program does not only help me as a student, it helps my entire community. It is committed to being a force for good in this community and in the many other communities in which it is implemented. As a senator who passes laws to build a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant New York, I ask with all the respect that you help keep many dreams alive in order for us to climb the ladder of success and make our communities better.

                EOP is very important to me, since I know that there are many students in my community that need the help that this program provides. EOP can help them look for a better tomorrow and their dreams can become realities like I’m hoping mine will. All in all, I want to ask for your support since it can be very beneficial to the Educational Opportunities Program, to its many students that need an extra push, and to those of us who want to grow as the leaders of tomorrow.  It truly does help students like myself look forward for a better tomorrow. I would, wholeheartedly, appreciate if you can help keep my dream as well future generations of EOP students’ dream alive.

Sincerely,

Clarisol Salcedo

Lunch By Andrea Gutierrez

There’s a trick to eating at the school dining halls. You can’t just dive into the halls thinking everything is tasty, first you have to find out if it’s even edible. Always look at your options before filling your plate! Never expect there to be a good meal waiting for you. Don’t think that all of the dishes are bad, some may actually be good. It may be scary or frustrating going down the stairs to the dining halls because you won’t always know what is good or bad to eat. “Will I get the shits today or will I actually make it out alive?” you continually ask yourself at each meal. Well, Eating at the dining halls is a delicate procedure and in my three and a half years of eating in the halls, I’ve figured out a system.

Step 1: PROWL

            Look at all your options. You have your pizza, the grill (with frozen hamburger patties, fries, turkey burgers, and tuna melts), the alternatives, the main course options, and the different sides. There are other food stations that are good alternatives such as the salads, soups, wraps and gourmet cooked food. Foods that you can't really go wrong in when cooking. My advice is to not rely on these everyday because you will tire from it and will be left hungry,with no other options.

*Note: During breakfast, there are freshly made omelets that are usually

well prepared but usually has a long waiting line.

Step 2: INSPECT

            There are many options to choose from, but that doesn’t mean they are all tasty or edible. Look at what is offered and inspect the quality. Check if the fries are too burnt, check if the hamburger patties look like imitation meat, check if the pizza is sloppy, and check if the pasta is dark and dry or white and soggy. As for the main course, see if the veggies are too soggy and the meat too dry.

*Advice: For dry meats, try to get the bottom pieces ad dip it in its own

gravy before putting it on your plate. Also for future references, remember who

 is making the food. If a student worker is at the grill or pizza station,

you might want to pass.

Step 3: HUNT-OR-GATHER

            Depending on if you are a vegetarian or a meat-eater, you either hunt or gather your food. If you’re an omnivore you can do both, no problem. Either way you need to be careful of what you choose and ask yourself, “is this food supposed to look or smell like this?” Always watch out for the lunch ladies. They tend to say what is on their minds quite freely. Take your plate and reach as close to the pas as much as possible. Try not to spill anything or you may anger the "lunch lady" beasts. Don’t take too much meat in front of the full line of hungry people, do it while they are looking away. Some of these lunch people may look like criminals but they can be very kind if you show them respect.

*Advice: Getting in good with food-staff has its benefits. I befriended two, and

at times get free swipes and am advised of what is good to eat for the day.

Step 4: TASTE

            If the food looks good enough to eat, check for poison. Just kidding, but do try the food with caution first. The vegetarian meals tend to be salty, anything considered  an Asian dish may be salty, chicken with the bones may still be too pink, and the marinara may sometimes be off or taste different. But the worse is when the food is tasteless. At least, you can put aside the gross foods but the bland foods you can eat will give you no satisfaction. Salt and pepper never fail, hot sauce or ketchup and mustard help too! You want to add as much flavor to your food as possible! Is the soup is too bland? Get some veggies and bacon from the salad area and dump it in. Your Mac-n-cheese not cheesy enough? Add shredded cheese and pop it in the microwave. Is there nothing good? Make yourself something with what is around you.

            My system usually works but there will be days when just about everything sucks. If that’s the case, there is always the Campus Center.

We conversed about LIFE by Maria Melon

Someone asked me tonight, “What’s the purpose of life?” I stood quiet, anxiously listening to what was going to come next but nothing came out of his mouth. I asked him, 'what's your purpose in life? Once you find your purpose then you can answer your  question.' I explained to him that everybody has a purpose in life, we are all put in this world for a reason; whether it’s to help and inspire others, be creators, innovators,  whatever it may be but believe that there isa purpose. Once we have fulfilled our purpose, everything that comes after, whether it’s our children or the younger generation, will live to fulfill their purpose….and that is LIFE.

I am a Product of EOP by Maria Melon

I sit in my class with other students, mostly traditional and the topic of EOP continually comes up. Most of my traditional classmates either get mad about the EOP Program, don’t know what it is, or  simply think the EOP program is unfair. But all I can think is, 'What isn't fair about the program? It’s not fair that society is built to keep us “EOP students” out of college! If it wasn't for EOP, we wouldn't have the opportunity to attend and afford college! You're mad because those who are not as privileged are able to get the same education as you?? Now that's not fair!

I love that I am a part of the my EOP family because not only has it helped me and guided me through my college experience these past four years but the staff members treat you as if your apart of their family. EOP Counselors help find each student free tutors for classes they are struggling with,help with searching for classes each semester, help spread information about internships, and most of all, EOP Counselors are an ear to listen when you need it. The complex is like our home away from home, it’s that comfort zone for a lot of students.

I am currently a Senior due to graduate in May. I've been a part of the EOP family since my freshman year (Fall 08’) at the University and I am so grateful to those who made this program possible! It allowed students like myself, who are not so privilege, to still be able to make it to college and graduate! So the next time you find yourself in a classroom and the topic of EOP comes up, let’s remind student's who do not know or understand our program, what EOP has done for us individually and as a collective family. I am proud to be EOP.

Proud to Be EOP!

To whom it may concern,         

           

E.O.P is more than just three letters to me.  Through this program I’ve learned so much and grown into a better man.  Being that neither of my parents were able to enroll in college I take pride in being able to get this far (sophomore year at the University at Albany SUNY).  Without the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), myself and many other determined individuals would never get our chance to shine.  I use to think that college wasn’t for me.  I thought I would end up on the streets selling drugs like most of my friends.  However, because I chose a different path, a different future, I was able to stay focus and work hard.  After applying to several colleges and being turned down by some or not being able to afford the others I began to lose hope.  I was just going to give up on college all together.  E.O.P was able to save me and put me back on track to what is now my destiny.  I write this letter not to speak about my personal struggles but to show you that there are many others like me who are just waiting for their chance to shine.  I am currently at sophomore status with the college credits I’ve obtained from high school and honestly couldn’t be happier to be here at University at Albany.  As a sophomore, a 3.6 G.P.A having, African American man I write to inform you that E.O.P does produce and will continue to produce success stories.  Don’t let the diamonds in the rough go unfound like I almost did.  Doesn’t everyone have the right and deserve the chance to shine? Thank you for your time and I look forward to meeting with you soon.

Sincerely,

Tre Branch

Proud to be E.O.P

If you are what you eat, than what am I? by Vicki Okung

I am Sunday breakfast. I am homemade hash browns with corn beef (Dad’s idea). I am Momma’s thick oatmeal, made to perfection, never too much water or too little, with butter to make it creamy, and just a little bit of sugar to make it sweet. I am eggs: scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or omelets with spicy peppers, mushrooms, and onions.  I will accommodate to whatever kind of eggs you like and will do a good job at doing so. I am Eggo waffles, for when momma is just a little too tired.

I am hope. Seeing me on the kitchen table brings a smile to everyone’s face. They all bow their heads, close their eyes and pray for me. They thank God for another Sunday breakfast, together. They pray that Momma’s hands will stay strong enough for next Sunday dinner. They thank God for daddy’s idea of corn beef fried in hash browns. They thank God for Vicki’s fried egg, Timma’s scrambled egg, and Eno’s omelet. They pray for the nourishment necessary to get through the day, and if this is the last meal they consume all week, they pray to God it keeps them nourished.

I am daddy’s hash browns with corn beef. Homemade. Mommy spent an hour cleaning me.  She never grows impatient, because she knew that if potatoes aren’t cleaned it will spoil the rest of the dish. She slowly peels those skins of my back, careful not to miss a spot. Sometimes missing and catching her fingers and cutting her fingers. She peels and shreds until her fingers are numb. She never complains because I am worth the sacrifice. She fries me till the perfect crisp, and adds a spoon of corn beef.

I am Momma’s favorite, oatmeal, always prepared just right. Carefully, she measures the oats and proportionally measures the correct amount of water to add, too much or too little water would make for unwanted oatmeal. Once I am perfectly cooked, she smiles and adds a hint of sugar, but never too much to spoil the meal. Finally, she adds a spoon of butter to make me thick and creamy.

Eggs define everyone in the family. Timma is the scrambled egg, as she has many different parts too her personality. Eno is an omelet, filled with onions, peppers, and mushrooms because she is a vegetarian. Nobody told her egg was considered meat. Finally, Vicki was a fried egg; Plain and simple, and kept to herself.

I am Sunday breakfast. I am the homemade hash browns with corn beef (Dad’s idea). I am Momma’s thick oatmeal, made to perfection, never too much water or too little, with butter to make it creamy, and just a little bit of sugar to make it sweet. I am eggs; Scrambled eggs, Fried eggs, Omelets with spicy peppers, onions, and mushrooms. I am what everyone anticipates for weekly. I am Sunday breakfast.

My idol By Molly Silvanic

If I could eat lunch with anyone, who would I choose? That question is and always has been a popular interview question. It allows the interviewers to get to see whom the interviewee admires and the interviewee gets to show off who they aspire to be.

I went for an interview a few weeks ago and I was asked this popular question. Without thinking I replied, "My mother, Terry."The woman who was interviewing me began to look sentimental, her face changed from a stern and strong look to puppy eyes, relaxed, and compassionate look. She looked me in the eye and said "I'm sorry about your mother, that must have been very hard for you." I looked back at her and said, "Oh no, my mother is still alive and well. Thank you though!" Her face changed from that sentimental look to a confused look, I could tell she did not understand. Her brown bushy eyebrows were raised and her dark brown chocolate colored eyes began to study me. Her pink chapped lips parted and she said " Oh no you must have misunderstood me, if you could have lunch with anyone in the world, dead or alive, rich, famous, etc. who would you choose?"With a confidence in my voice and a smile on my face I replied again, "I would have lunch with my mother." And before she could cut me off and insist that I didn't understand her question, I explained. "My mother is a single mother of 2 children, my brother and I. I was adopted when I was a baby and brought to her wonderful home where she cared for me and loved me my entire life. Nights when our power was shut off, she was on the phone arguging to give us one more night of heat, days when our kitchen barely had any food she would cook everything we had for my brother and I. She would allow us to eat before she herself was able to. Knowing we always had bills to pay, she would work everyday in a job where she was mistreated, judged, and overworked. I understand many people choose rich or famous people, Beyonce, Obama, whoever. But my mother is my idol, she is my hero. My mother has given me the confidence I need as a woman to succeed, to survive. She has shown me the difference between being a woman and a girl. She has taught me how to be a lady. That is why I value and look up to my mother. A person who I have never met and just seen on the television screen or heard on the radio could not teach me the things that my mother has." And with that the interviewer looked like she had understood. She continued asking questions while each of my answered were cleary spoken, truthfully answered, and strongly believed. I am my mothers daughter.