College Program Experience

My experience in the Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program (SDAP) was fun and I love it because you get to have peer support that shows you around the campus and where your classes are. When my schedule came out, I saw who my supports were, and I was nervous to meet them in person. For my class major and career exploration, I saw that my support was Sidney Branham. We started texting and met up on campus for class, and when I first met her, she was super sweet and we talked about ourselves and got to know each other. And now since that class is over, I have been texting and calling Sidney, and we are really good friends. We had lunch one day with my current support, Brenna, at the central dining hall. I introduced Sidney to Brenna, and they talked about their majors and other things.

My other class is yoga. Brenna is my support for that class. We do yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays. She is very nice and sweet, and she helps me with my assignments. Brenna was also my support for the hospitality house and the homeless shelter. She volunteers there with me every Tuesday and Thursdays from twelve to three. The workers there were super nice. I cooked for the homeless people, and I helped in the food pantry. My other support waited for me outside of the volunteer place. His name is Sunnit, and he was really nice. We talked the whole entire bus ride to the campus. We talked about what hall I am in and how my classes are going. My Beyond Normal class support is Joi Perry. She is so nice and helps me with assignments and group projects. She is helping me with my individual project on social work and disability. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday. My other class is sociology, and my support is Brenna. I have an academic coach helping me with the discussion in the sociology class. Her name is Mackenzie Mack, and she is very nice and helpful with my discussion. My supports are helpful because they have made my college experience better. I appreciate my supports because they help me with my assignments, and they are always willing to help me when I need it. When I am overwhelmed, they help me calm down so I can get my work done. I would not be as successful in college if I did not have their support. I really have enjoyed getting to know my supports and they are some of my greatest friends.