Upward Bound: A fond farewell from everyone

Syrena Clark

It has been a good ride, and it shall be a fond farewell.

As soon as Upward Bound began it seems it has come to the end of its summer portion. Just like that. The growth of every student has been enormous. Just as turtle is freed from its shell, we feel free and have all found the ability to be ourselves.

That is us, that is what Upward Bound has done for so many, and this why that we wish it a friendly goodbye, and begin to wait in anticipation for the beginning of next summer.

The feeling is wistful and bittersweet as we begin to clean our dorms, and strengthen the bonds we have formed for the bonds must hold out for the academic year. Half of our body is exhausted beyond belief having gone and gone for these past six weeks. The other half is screaming Don't go! Not just yet!

Classes, work, and afternoon activities. Burning the midnight oil that we’re all not really supposed to burn (but let’s be honest) and rubbing the sleep from our eyes in the morning, we’ve all reached our breaking point. But what a beautiful view it is, and what an invigorating hike up here. This week we stand from the top of this mountain, our current one, and take in the air. We can all feel a little pride, and a little pleasure at what we’ve all overcome.

To those I know who can call themselves the 98 percent introvert and the 2 percent fake extrovert, you’ve all done marvelously well. And to those 100 percent extroverts, thank you all for making the van rides so enjoyable. What would we all do without each other? What would we all do without Upward Bound?

To all of us who are the first in our family to make it to college, to those who have something to prove, thank you, all of you, you’ve done a great job creating such a beautiful place of welcome.

These six weeks have been long, and they’ve been tiring, and trying. There have been tears, and injuries, but it has all been worth it. The skills we’ve all gained will be found nowhere else. The stressors this last week with the Lab Report and the Critical Analysis, have been overwhelming. But that too has been worth it. The square dancing, Mt. Blue State Park, the concerts, the special interest nights, and advisor groups have been amazing.

I know what it’s like to have your friends ask why you spent your summer at Upward Bound. And I know what it’s like to be at a loss for words because it is a hard thing to describe (or at the very least explain). Because there are so many things I want to say and probably won’t say anything at all, but, instead, just look at them and wish that they understood.

Lastly, thank you Elyse, Lynn, Holly, and the rest of this summer’s staff. I think it is safe to say that you’ve all had a hand in changing our lives.

This is from everyone to everyone; this is a fond farewell to the 2012 summer program or Trio’s UMF Upward Bound. We can do anything and no one can tell us differently.

Syrena Clark, 17, a former Mt. Blue High School student, will begin her senior year at Gorham High School this month. As an Upward Bound student at the University of Maine at Farmington this summer, she also worked as a writing intern at the Daily Bulldog. We want to thank Syrena for her wonderful contributions here and wish her the absolute best. - The Daily Bulldog staff