Mr. Brogdon

“Learning How to Become a Better Me for the Future” – Submitted by Catherine Baker As a member of the Orangeburg Alumnae Chapter’s Delta GEMS Program it is truly an honor to have been selected to attend this summer’s Teen LIFT program. As a young African-American female who has been continuously overlooked for various educational opportunity programs that could have assisted me in taking the right educational path throughout my high school years. Being able to participate in the Teen LIFT program will afford me the opportunity to engage in higher order thinking experiences. This program will help me get in touch with the inner me, discovering exactly who I am, who I want to become and very importantly, how I plan to reach my goals in life. By participating in the Teen LIFT program, I will be able to move into the future with a positive self-esteem, understanding the beautiful African-American female that looks at herself in the mirror every morning, and loving what I see, as well as having a vivid view and understanding of the world we live in. The Teen LIFT program would be very beneficial to me because I believe it will open up new pathways of opportunities for young ladies to focus on the skills needed to function as a whole being when entering the various fields of their choice. Growing up in Orangeburg, SC, I have not had a lot of cultural enrichment opportunities until I became a member of the Delta GEMS program. I have learned so much in the GEMS program and I know that by participating in the Teen LIFT program this summer, my hopes and dreams of becoming a better citizen will only increase my knowledge and skills of becoming a better leader.

“Moving Forward to a Successful Future”
Submitted by Toni Inabinet, Delta GEMS (Orangeburg Alumnae Chapter) I believe that every individual should have the opportunity to pursue his or her dreams of succeeding educationally, culturally and socially and I am elated to be able to participate in the Teen LIFT program this summer. I am a young African American female who is finally getting herself moving in the right directions in life. My first positive step was becoming a member of the Orangeburg Alumnae Chapter’s Delta GEMS program. Through the program I have learned so much about coping with the positives and the negatives that life will sometimes present you with. I know, with all my heart that attending the Teens LIFT program this summer will only add to the knowledge I received in the GEMS program. Teen LIFT will be very beneficial in taking me to another level and stage of my life. The program workshops I will can assist me in understanding how to care for my complete self. These include taking care of my body, my mind and my soul. The various workshops will assist me in understanding the significance of each component of life that will ensure that I become a world-class citizen and to be able to cope with the obstacles in life that may confront me. Teen LIFT will give me the experience that I was unable to receive in my high school, because I was not one of the elite or all-round student in high school. I believe the Teen LIFT program will teach the “whole me” how to become a world-class all-round citizen, and not just teach parts of me as a person that fits a particular time in my life. The Teen LIFT program will help me become the leader that hides inside of me. The program will give me the hope and will power that I need to persevere in life. The Teen LIFT program is my door to a successful future.