 Yamilys
Ortiz
Have you ever been sitting down reflecting on something and waiting
for something to do? You are mad bored...then you decide to go outside.
Then when you come back, the people in your house tell you that you
missed an important call. Well, this is what happened to me and I’m
going to tell you my story.
It was a Monday in the first week of July and I was bored with
nothing to do. I decided to go to the store. When I came back, my mom
told me that I had missed an important call. I went to check the caller
ID and it was Mr. Lopez, a lifesaver. I returned the call and he asked
me what I was doing this summer. I told him "nothing," so then
he gave me an opportunity to join the Summer Bridge Program. I said
okay, but I wasn’t really sure.
The next day I woke up and went. I was scared because I was a
Sophomore and there were a lot of Freshmen, but I met a lot of new
people and there were three other sophomores! To me this is an
accomplishment because even though I’m a Sophomore, I’m still
getting both of the credits for all of the work I am doing in the
Program. |
 Dwight
Velasquez
When I started this Program I did not like it
because I had to do a lot of work. The miracle moment was when the teacher
started to explain the work and it made the work easier and even fun. She
also helped me when I did not understand. And now I understand everything
a little bit better. |
 Aria
Francis
When my Mom told me I had to go to this Program, I
was mad because I didn’t want to waste my summer going to school. On
my first day I was really scared. I didn’t know what people’s first
impression would be of me. I felt really bad when Arianna chose me to
introduce myself. I had to tell everybody something about myself. My
intern was Latisha, and in my group I had Tomoya and Samantha. It didn’t
take us long to bond and to become good friends, because they knew two
boys who were in my eighth-grade class. This day was my miracle moment
because these girls changed my whole impression of the Program. After
that day we really enjoyed being around each other and we have had a lot
of fun. Now I am really happy my mom told me to come here. |
 Daniella
Junor
My first day in this Program was my miracle
moment. I thought it was going to be boring and I wouldn’t have any
friends, but that day was my miracle moment. It was on a sunny day, June
30th, that I made two friends, then I made about three more,
and I also saw this boy who I liked but he was taken!
Anyway, I had about five friends to laugh and talk
with all day. There were also two girls I knew from my middle school. I
felt comfortable that day being the girl who made five friends. During
that week I felt much better about the Program. My intern was a very
nice, helpful person named Elina. She would check my work and if I did
not complete it, she would help me to understand it. |
 Zenaida
Cruz
My miracle moment was my first day in the Program. I came two days
late and I was nervous that no one would like me. When I got in the
room, Mrs. France asked everyone to be nice to me. I looked around and
two girls, Aria and Mellesia, shouted "hello!" I felt liked in
that moment. I sat and they began to speak to me. I enjoyed myself.
Since that day, everything has been fine. I’m real close to my friends
Aria and Mellesia. I shared the lunch that I had bought with them and
told them stories about my life and family. We all laughed about boys
and everything was fine. |
 Tomoya
Morgan
My miracle moment happened when I met "Ms. Attitude."
"Ms. Attitude" walked in one day and my first impression of
her was horrible. I thought she was a mean, snobby person. But after a
while, we started to talk to each other. Soon we were taking the same
bus home.
The miracle moment happened and I learned it’s not good to judge
someone by how she looks. |
 Mia
Acosta
The first day I came here I didn’t know anybody. I felt like I was
going to be alone and that I was going to know only my best friend,
Carolyn. But I was wrong, and I met new friends, new teachers, and the
interns. This Program is fun because I met a lot of different people
with different personalities. Some of my new friends are not from the
Bronx but are from different counties.
I am glad that I was in the science group for the first cycle. It was
a lot of hard work, but I got my credit. I had Abdul as my intern. My
teachers were Ms. Randall and Mr. Friedman. In addition to Abdul, the
interns were Latisha, Danielle, Elina, JR, Alex, and Shalini.
Now I am in the art group for the second cycle. So far the art group
has been fun. We learned drawing basics and how to draw faces. Isaac was
the intern who showed us this. My intern is Malissa. She seems really
nice and I like her. In the art group I have Ms. Wissmann and Mr. Lopez.
The other interns are Vicky, Princess, and Cheyanne. When Cheyanne and
Isaac are together they joke around, which makes us laugh a lot. |
 Stephanie
Lucena
I was amazed when I had to dissect a fish in my science class. It was
disgusting and smelly. At first I was scared. I really didn’t feel
like dissecting it because I thought I was going to get sick, but after
I started to feel the fish, I got comfortable and was actually having
fun. There was a point when I had to cut the fish in half and see the
insides. I started to get disgusted again because I had to find the
heart and brain, and I could see the bones because it was a bony fish.
But then again, I was having fun because I was touching the brain and
heart, and I was actually poking the eye. I was also having fun because
my partner was Arianna and we were laughing and getting disgusted at the
same time. |
 Mellesia
Foster
A miracle moment for me was on the day we went to Orchard Beach. I
wasn’t feeling well and I thought it was going to be a boring trip
with a lot of work. When we got to the inlet across from Orchard Beach,
we started doing work. We saw that the inlet had crabs. The crabs were
scaring me and I hated them. My teacher, Ms. Randall, and my intern,
Alex, were teasing me because they knew I was scared of the crabs.
The miracle moment happened when we got to the beach. My classmates
and I went into the water to play around. We were racing and splashing,
and had a lot of fun. After we played in the water, we played handball
and basketball.
This day turned out to be a good day after all!
(Editor’s note: See intern Alex Brooks shooting a basket on later!) |
 Mudassar
Ahmed
When I came to the USA I felt afraid about living over here. I could
understand English, and I passed Junior High School. I was so happy!
During summer vacation I was bored at home. Then I joined the Summer
Program at Lehman College. It’s fun. The teachers are good, kind, and
helpful. Everyone helps me. I’m improving my skills, too. I think I
might like to become a teacher–helpful, kind, and good.
I’d like to be a commando.
I’d like to defend the USA.
I’d like to give my life to save the country.
I’d like to have too much money and things.
I’d like to help the poor people.
I’d like peace, kindness, and helping all over the world.
I’d like our country’s head to never fall.
I’d like to be a great teacher.
I’d like to have friends, good friends.
I’d like to have a wife who loved me.
I’d like everything that is good for the world. |
 Alicia
Lee
During eighth grade I received my high-school responses back.
Unfortunately, I did not get into any of the high schools of my choice.
Ever since then, my mother and I had been visiting different high
schools and hoping that I would be able to get into one of them.
Unfortunately, each school said it had no space or that I had to go to
my zone school. Then summer came and I really started to worry about
high school. I was talking to my good friend Aria Francis. She was
accepted to HSTP and at the time attending the Summer Program. She told
me I could go to school with her the next day and talk to someone about
trying to get me in. I had my doubts but I said I’d give it a try. I
was preparing for the worst. I thought they would say there was nothing
they could do, or they had no space, or something like that.
When we arrived at school, I spoke with Mr. Friedman and explained my
situation. He told Ms. Randall, and they asked about my grades. When I
showed them my report card, they were really impressed. Ms. Randall took
me to Mrs. France in the office, and I was immediately signed up for the
Summer Program. The teachers said they would try their best to get me
registered for the school right then and there.
I thought that was a miracle. On top of that, I met some great new
people who became my friends very quickly. That was my miracle moment of
the last three weeks. |
 Charles
Diaz
There have been many miracle moments in my life, but some have
touched me more than others. Some have made me stronger. One of them
made me a better person.
There was one time that I wanted a drum set but I couldn’t find a
special on one. My dad I traveled around the whole Bronx and went to the
biggest stores, but we couldn’t find one. We even went on Ebay but
nothing came of it, so we left it to God’s will. A week passed and we
still couldn’t find a drum set. Then a friend of mine said, "I
know a store that sells drum sets--Brohms on Webster Avenue." I
went over and they had a Tama drum set for $325.99. I said I wanted a
less expensive set, so the salesman said he would sell the set to me for
$300 without tax. I got my drum set. This just shows that those who are
patient and wait on God eventually get the things they want. I waited
and I got a Tama, one of the best drum sets made. |
 Arianna
Severino
It was disgusting! Yet fun! As I saw that fish, I thought I was going
to throw up. But when I touched it, it wasn’t so scary. It was a
miracle! I had the guts to be able to touch that fish! Stephanie and I
were able to dissect the fish. That, in fact, was a miracle moment!
|
 Carolyn
Suero
I don’t know why, but for some reason I always pass my first and
second period classes. Then I fail the third period class and pass the
fourth. I think it’s a tradition, because ever since the fifth grade,
the thing that’s wrong with me is that I don’t study. My goal in the
ninth grade is to study more often. I’ll give myself a 30-minute break
for television and take a break for eating. Trust me, I am going to be
very hard on myself. I expect more from myself because I know I can do
better.
Since I came into this Program, I feel that I have accomplished
something because I’m going to be able to get my two credits. I will
be so happy! |
 Tanique
Talley
My miracle moment was the first day of the Program. This was my
miracle moment because I was very shy, but I made friends fast. At first
I was sitting by myself and not talking to anyone. Aria and her friends
came up to me and started talking.
My first impression of everything was different. Mellesia looked like
she had an attitude. Aria looked like she was nice. Tomoya looked like
she had a attitude. Samantha...I thought she was crazy! But everyone
turned out to be nice and ever since then we have all been good friends! |
What
are my feelings toward this Program,
you ask? Well, from what I have so far experienced since the first day
of its beginning, it has been quite enjoyable. The reason I chose the
word "enjoyable" is because I have personally enjoyed the
presence of the many people I have gotten to work with and work for. The
two people I have had the great pleasure of working for in the art cycle
are Mr. Lopez and Ms. Wissmann. My fellow interns, or you can say
colleagues, are Isaac, Cheyanne, Princess, and Malissa. Having spent
almost four weeks with these amazing people has put my mind frame in a
better zone. The new Freshmen appear to be having an enjoyable time.
Even though some may have thought this experience would have taken a
turn for the worse, I can see that they are going to have a memorable
experience in the Summer Bridge Program. Hopefully, next summer they
will take the spots of the Sophomore interns and have as much fun and as
many exciting times as we are having this summer.
Mireille
Someone
who I admire stands alone as he reads a book that he started reading in
the beginning of the month. I’ve been watching him for a while, and I
finally got a picture of him. I am scared to approach him, so I will
keep taking pictures and writing. Will he ever know who I am? Will he
ever notice me?
"I
Am"