Written by Joy Mohammed, iCan Program Coordinator
The iCan Achieve Program, a division of the Metro Youth YMCA (MY Y), works to build the entire student through effective experiential programming. Exposure is one of the most important tools MY Y and iCan utilizes. The iCan Achieve program, a flagship in MY Y programming, organizes various educational excursions for local youth throughout the year. These experiences include college tours, career exploration, and artistic expression to manifest ambition and accomplishments in participants.
This year, the Metro Youth YMCA chose to do a tour of major colleges in the Chicagoland area. Students visited Northwestern, De Paul, and Loyola Universities and to some cultural activities only found in Chicago. In terms of utilizing exposure, The Chicago College Tour was one of the most impressive moments of the 2014-2015 school year.
Students arrived in Chicago via an underrated Amtrak ride on Easter Sunday and stayed downtown at the Red Roof Inn. Their schedule was jam packed with college tours and a beautiful melting Lake Michigan in the background. They ventured to various Chicago staples including Shedd’s Aquarium, Ed Debevic’s, riding the “L” train, Navy Pier, and the shops on State Street.
Danielle is a sophomore at Detroit Leadership High School who went on the tour. She wrote an impressive essay on why students, like her, deserve and opportunity to go to college to secure her spot on the tour. She also wrote about her first impression of Chicago below.
“Today was filled with a lot of new experiences. It was my first time riding a train. At first I was really nervous but it wasn’t as bad as I’d though it would be. Arriving in Chicago was a whole different story though. I have to say it’s a really eye catching place. Chicago has a whole different atmosphere than Detroit. I think even the buildings are larger here. Also there is two times the amount of people walking downtown in Chicago than Detroit. Even the restaurants are interesting. It’s definitely a city that keeps a good atmosphere going. This is my first impression of Chicago.” -Danielle, 15
Danielle’s experience is exactly the chance MY Y and iCan Achieve aim to provide all of our participants through programming initiatives. To find out more about the Chicago trip, other activities, or to donate or volunteer, please visit our Facebook page or website.