The State of SMASH event celebrated the efforts of 70 local high school students who will be entering college as first-generation students in the coming years. These wonderfully inspiring students spent two months on the campus of either UC Berkeley or Stanford, taking classes and learning about college life. It was really wonderful to get to meet them, and I can only hope our paths will cross again in the future! - Jasmine, Pre K-12 Area Leader
As the teens and families from The State of SMASH began to eagerly fill into the Valley Business and Technology lobby for delicious treats, a few asked about our experience as college students; I couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia come over me. I still have the faint memory as a high school student lost in the sea information regarding college. For me It was the college outreach programs, similar to SMASH, that I still feel indebted to. It reminded me of the importance of collaborating with organizations supporting the underrepresented to pursue higher education is key to bridging gaps, improving lives, and fueling our community's future, As I drifted back into the present, I let the visitors know that as college students, the most important thing is to take initiative and seek out opportunities!
-Hadia Amani. Professional Development Area Leader
As the teens and families from The State of SMASH began to eagerly fill into the Valley Business and Technology lobby for delicious treats, a few asked about our experience as college students; I couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia come over me. I still have the faint memory as a high school student lost in the sea information regarding college. For me It was the college outreach programs, similar to SMASH, that I still feel indebted to. It reminded me of the importance of collaborating with organizations supporting the underrepresented to pursue higher education is key to bridging gaps, improving lives, and fueling our community's future, As I drifted back into the present, I let the visitors know that as college students, the most important thing is to take initiative and seek out opportunities!
-Hadia Amani. Professional Development Area Leader