Preparing people to lead extraordinary lives.

This is Loyola University Chicagos promise, with its Jesuit roots and teachings aimed at educating the whole person. Through its extensive core requirements, Loyola encourages each student to graduate successfully with a well-rounded background, having explored all areas of study (to an extent) that they might not have thought to explore given their particular major. One focus of Loyola that is especially important is their civic engagement requirement, which gives students the opportunity to go out into and help build or contribute to their community. I had the opportunity for civic engagement this past semester through my internship with Targeting New Transition (TNT). Although my internship experience with TNT will continue into next semester, I feel I have already learned a lot from my experiences up to this point. When I began my position at TNT, I wasnt entirely sure what to expect. Even though I had worked with GEAR UP Chicago through a different program last year, I was not sure what awaited me upon walking into Kelly High School. After getting into a comfortable swing with my partner and students, our group has really developed into its own close, efficient, and entertaining little unit. Whether its explaining polynomials for algebra or playing vocabulary hangman, my experiences with TNT have only gone uphill since my start in September. One of TNTs primary focuses is developing strong, competent leaders to tutor and mentor the students within their programs. These leaders, or academic coaches, are not only valued and brought into the program based on what sort of assets or skills they can bring to the program, but they are also valued on whatever deficits or weaknesses they bring or may acquire throughout the program. It is because of these deficits and weaknesses that TNT is able to evolve and better meet the demands and requests of the freshman students whom the program serves. As a leader (academic coach) within TNT, I have been able to focus and develop my leadership capabilities. I am able to organize and lead study sessions, get the attention of a room of rambunctious teenagers when necessary, and even present myself as someone to whom other coaches look to for help or with questions. The division of labor within the program, mainly between each pair of coaches per group of students, has also forced me to become more independent and responsible, further fostering my leadership capabilities. Although I may not have to directly employ these types of leadership behavior for my particular major or career path, I think they can be translated into similar situations that can help me succeed better than I would have previously. In addition to the leadership skills I will take away with me after my internship experience, I also believe I will have gained a set of valuable transferable skills that can be applied to whatever my future may hold. Not only have I brushed up on all my high school math and science concepts and skills, but I am also learning new and dependable ways with which to teach these concepts to the students. While I dont necessarily plan on going into teaching in my future, I am very much interested in a career in some sort of pediatric medicine. Learning how to talk to and communicate with the students, and how to make them feel comfortable and able to talk with myself and other coaches is great practice for future interactions with patients and a learning experience for how children and teenagers think and act in general.

TNT has challenged me from day one. It challenged me, among many other things, to step out of my comfort zone. It challenged me to take charge of a situation, and it challenged me to realize that not all people are given the same resources in life to help them along the way. Growing up with resources and support a plenty, I did not really get a glimpse into how those less fortunate or disadvantaged cope with the various demands and struggles of life, no matter what the age. I have also always been a rather shy-until-you-get-to-know-me type of girl, and so I was more likely to sit back and let others make decisions or lead the group. TNT has forced me to grow into myself so to speak, and become a more headstrong and independent individual when in a professional setting. Loyola aim to graduate successful individuals who can go out into their respective field of choice, whatever that may be, and be leaders who lead extraordinary lives; leaders who are always changing and developing for the better with time. I believe that TNT has influenced my life to the point where this is a definite possibility, and I can positively contribute, both now and in the future, to my communitys civic health knowing not only my leadership style, assets and deficits, but also how I can grow and improve upon those things. It has given me yet another opportunity to lead an extraordinary life.. In conclusion, my time spent with Targeting New Transitions has been, thus far, a great experience, allowing me to not only see the impact that I am personally having on the students, but also the overall impact of the program and what it is doing for the community. From its specialized coaches to its support and resources for the students of Kelly and Curie High School, TNT is working (and succeeding) to increase the health of its respective communities. Its success is not just limited to, but definitely obvious in, the actual program, but also in its influence on my personal development. It has molded me into a better leader, given me skills to help me lead a successful and well-rounded life, and opened up doors to networking opportunities and further advancement within the program. Is has been such a great learning and personal experience working with TNT, and I can only hope and imagine it will get better as I embark upon my second semester with the program in the spring semester.