Explore new opportunities. Be prepared. Go the distance. Students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) heard this advice and more during the Pre-Collegiate event, “Get Plugged In.”
“The event focused on connecting the students with faculty, staff and student leaders at SIUE as a way to get them plugged into the community,” said Makesha Harris Lee, EdD, assistant director for Pre-Collegiate Programs. “The day consisted of several sessions, beginning with a morning social that included an icebreaker game, panel discussion and an activity about self-identity and values.”
“Later, the students took a campus tour and experienced the SIUE Student Government’s Tunnel of Oppression,” she continued. “The significance of the Tunnel of Oppression and the other identity awareness exercises was to raise consciousness about oppression, and for the students to have a chance to walk in someone else’s shoes and be able to see the value in differences.” Approximately 30 CHS students enjoyed the day of activities, information and connections.
The “take-away” for the day, according to Harris Lee, was for CHS students to be able to identify at least one current SIUE student or employee who will help them stay connected to the University.
“The state of Illinois is losing its students to out-of-state schools, and research shows the main reason Illinois high school students and parents are not choosing Illinois schools is because they do not feel connected to the campus communities,” explained Harris Lee. “It is my hope to help students and their parents feel linked to SIUE by giving them opportunities to interact with our campus partners and current students. This is also the reason I created the SIUE e-Plugs mentoring program.”
SIUE alumna Kelley Brooks, assistant director in the Office of Admissions, fielded several questions from CHS students as a panelist.
“When you go to college, keep an open mind,” Brooks advised. “There are times when students can be closed minded, because they are so focused on race. When you go to college, you may not want to share a room or suite with someone of another race or background, but you never know, that person or persons could end up your lifelong friend.”
Taylor Robinson, Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR) teaching assistant and National Guard member, encouraged students to find their place in college. Robinson received a bachelor’s in criminal justice studies in 2018 from SIUE.
“I am a first generation college student,” said Robinson. “I came from a two-parent home and had five brothers and five sisters. When I graduated from high school, I felt like college was not for me. I enlisted in the military. It wasn’t until I met others who had a college degree, who encouraged me to go to school.”
“I came to SIUE in the spring semester, when people already had made connections. I felt out of place. What encouraged me was my drive to be here. I had to find the beauty in obtaining an education. I pushed through and started joining clubs and organizations. I found purpose and meaning for myself. I also wanted to give my parents something to let them know that all of their struggles had not been in vain.”
Joe Simpson, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, told the students about the value in joining organizations and clubs that will support them.
“Coming to college was a new experience, and I had just come out in the LGBTQ community,” said Simpson. “I was reserved in my freshman year. I was concerned about what people would say about me, and what they thought about me. However, joining my organization was a breath of fresh air. Without fellow members making me feel comfortable to be who I am, I’m not sure where I would be.”
“The program went extremely well,” noted Harris Lee. “After this one event, I now have 11 faculty, staff, and student leaders serving our pre-collegiate students as e-Plugs. My goal is to have an e-Plug for every pre-collegiate participant.”
For more information about e-Plugs, contact Harris Lee at makharr@siue.edu.
The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century.
Photos: Jason Pappas, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, talks with SIUE Charter High School freshman Jaymz Young.
Dawn Huckleberry, SIUE advisor, and CHS sophomore Leslie Brazier exchange information in the “Bingo to Meet You” game.