Summer?

Briana Chang

It’s not too early to start thinking about summer, especially when A Better Chance is offering some amazing opportunities to scholars with deadlines quickly approaching.

• Last year I was honored with one of the A Better Chance Awards for being a well rounded student.  This year let it be you! Awards will be given to 30 Scholars with amounts ranging from $250 - $1500.  All A Better Chance Scholars, regardless of grade level, are eligible to apply upon completing the application- Due March 31, 2012 (postmarked date)

• 2 Scholarships to attend the Cambridge College Programme at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England for will be awarded to sophomores or juniors who return the application to a Better Chance. Scholarships cover program costs and airfare. If you do not need a scholarship, you should apply directly to www.cambridgecollegeprogramme.org/PDFs/application.pdf. If you notify the Programme that you are an A Better Chance Scholar, you will receive a $500 discount.- Due April 6, 2012 (postmarked date)

•  A minimum of 20 partial to full scholarships for current sophomores and juniors will be awarded to those who submit the Experiment in International Living application, EIL (study abroad trips for 3-5 weeks this summer). – Due March 1, 2012 (postmarked date)

• One scholarship to participate in the Longacre Leadership Camp. Though open to boys and girls, to qualify for this scholarship, prospective campers must be a boy between 12 and 18 years old. Interested Scholars should contact their Regional Program Manager by March 15, 2012.

• 40 Group Leaders (juniors and seniors are eligible) to serve as workshop facilitators at the A Better Chance New Scholar orientation programs in CA or PA during the summer. (Applications will be available in March.)

Don’t let the opportunities pass you by- the deadlines come faster than you think.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade

 Celina Fernandez-Ayala

Most people don't believe me when I say that Christians were a minority at my high school. I would not believe it either, had I not experienced it. In fact, there were very few practitioners of any faith at school, including faculty. This made my high school years especially painful, being both a racial minority and a religious minority. Attending school was not difficult because there were few Christians, but because people were unaware of the hurtful comments they made in refernce to the religion.

I founded the Christian Alliance as a safe, supportive space for Christian students and faculty. I continued the group because no one deserves to have their humanity challenged, to be humiliated, to be made lesser than anyone else. With all of the negative experiences I had, it is difficult to make peace with my high school years. I may never truly be able to do so, even though I've come out a more compassionate, intelligent and resilient young woman. All I can say is "When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." (Unknown.)  I encorage you all to aknowledge problems and create solutions.

Keep on keeping on, ABC scholars!

All Girl's School?!?!?!

Evelysse Vargas

My name is Evelysse Vargas and I am currently a junior at the Chapin School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Chapin is an all-girls school, as were 4 out of the 5 schools that I applied to. People normally have an immediate reaction when I tell them that I go to an all-girl school. Most boys say, “Oh, I want to go there”, while most girls cringe at the idea of being surrounded by only girls on a daily basis. Some protective fathers want their daughters to strictly apply to all-girl schools and some mothers are also protective of their daughters and thus, concur. I will tell you right now that the reasons listed above, should not factor in to your decision-making. I was a tomboy growing up and I never imagined that I could get along with solely girls, much less attend an all-girl school. Now I am a junior in high school, and I consider my 36 classmates sisters. Going to an all-girl school has provided me with the tools I need to be a successful woman in this world. No one is concerned with boys while answering a question in math class, or if the cute boy that you have a crush on might ridicule your response to that tough question. Although these may seem exaggerated to some, these hypotheses that I had were confirmed this fall when I attended the co-ed Chewonki Semester School. Of the girls there, I was one of the few who consistently shared how I was feeling and I was never afraid to disagree with the males in the room. Additionally, I, along with some of my friends who also attend all-girls schools in New York City, noticed the overly deferential nature of some of our girl friends who attend co-ed schools. This is not to say that males are evil or negative influences on females. However, it is much easier to be focused, and grow as a student when males are not present and are therefore, not an impediment. I could not imagine myself at any other school. Chapin has made me who I am today, and a co-ed Chapin would not have yielded the same results. So don’t cross that all-girl school off your list yet! Take a second look and if you have any questions feel free to email me at 13EVV@chapin.edu.

From One Scholar to the Next

Asha Parker 

The idea of in just a few short months, heading back, and for some of you first entering, your A  Better Chance Member school is certainly a daunting one. The months leading up to my own arrival on my high school campus, were full of intense preparation for all that I would encounter for those four years of my life. I was warned about culture shock, and the dangerous effects of procrastination and peer pressure. I too often heard about the struggles and hardships that I would face, but failed to recognize that there would be ways to cope and manage.   Words of advice from one scholar to the next:

Freshman Year: It is most important to remember that you must keep an open mind. Do NOT close yourself to the knowledge you will gain simply by listening to and learning from the experiences of others. You will encounter culture shock, and individuals who seemingly come from worlds completely opposite to your own. Still, it will only prove to help you become a well-rounded person. Don’t be afraid to speak to someone you could never imagine yourself as friends with. Join different clubs, and attend meetings.  Get involved!

Sophomore Year: Once you’ve survived your freshman year, and gotten acclimated to the new environment, you must remember that you should still work just as hard, and not get too laid-back. Stay focused.

Junior Year: College crack down time… junior year just may be the most important of your entire high school career. Grades matter now more than ever. Colleges are looking for individuals that have made the most of their time at their high schools, and have joined clubs, played sports and been the leaders of various teams and groups. Balancing usual school work and commitments, with studying for the SAT and completing college apps may sound nearly impossible. But remember- being able to manage your time wisely will be your greatest tool. Beware of Mr. Procrastination. 

Senior Year: Sure, by senior year, you will have come a long way, and the realization that it is all almost over, will be a relieving one. Yet, it is too easy to become caught up, and forget that though you are very near the end, you’ve still got some ways to go. Continue to work hard, and finish strong.

So, this is it. In a few short months, you will be stepping onto the grounds of your A Better Chance member school. If you now have any doubts at all, get rid of them. If you are suddenly regretting the decision you’ve made, shake the feeling. If you are completely overwhelmed by the possibility of so many things that can go wrong, stop now and take a deep breath.

Trust me when I say, it won’t always be easy, but you WILL get through it, and it will be worthwhile!

Best Wishes,

Asha Parker, Class of 2011

Dear Reader,

Briana Chang

It has been quite some time since I last posted for you all.  During my time away I have learned valuable things about the roles I play in school, with friends, and as a scholar.  Nobody is perfect but every challenge of everyday is a lesson that I’m hoping to share with as many people as possible to prevent the idea of failure. 

P.S. Do not be scared by the word FAILURE, unless you fail to learn from its experience.  


Sincerly yours, 
Briana Chang

Who am I

Briana Chang

Freshman year was filled with giggles and tears, laughter and silence; a journey of a lifetime summed up in nine months.  It was the first time that I could depend only on myself.   But who was that? Going up the steep hill of a successful year I forgot, or maybe just never met, Briana Chang.  To reach the distant peek of the hill I took detours and a few wrong turns expecting to find Briana. Funny thing is that even before I decided to take my first step she was created.
    We often question who we are and fail to realize that life “isn’t about finding yourself it’s about creating yourself”(George Bernard Shaw).  Don’t make the mistake of looking for something that is not -- set out your journey to improving what  is.

R.I.P.-Learning

Briana Chang

I was in Barnes & Nobles reading The Lost Art of Reading, where David L. Ulin explained that to our generation “Literature is dead…reading is over.”  I think the same thing goes for learning; I don’t know many kids who go to school or pick up a book because they want to, they only do it because they think: “this will make me look better on my college application.” In attempts to get all As on my science tests last year, I crammed information into my brain each week.  As easy as I wrote down notes in class the information was poured out onto the test, and now I can’t remember much of anything.  I once had a joy for learning new things and coming up with ways to use them in my daily life. In my junior year of high school the only joy I can imagine is having college over and done for.  I hope I can return to that sate of mind where learning is a craft that I take pride in and do actively; the least I can do is inspire you to begin/continue the love of learning. In fact that is my new years resolution!