Yesterday I had the opportunity and privilege to speak to an all male Latino based MCC Retention Program. I was asked by a colleague of mine, if I would come and speak to the class. She wanted me to share my message of education and expose the students to another successful Latino male. As I previously stated, I was honored.
I presented a slide show very similar to what I had shown students at the University of Rochester's event a couple of weeks ago. The theme and message was still relevant to this group of students. Throughout the presentation we had, great "teachable moments" and instances where students were inspired. In particularly when we spoke about getting involved on campus, and making your mark. The students looked at this statement as their opportunity to reignite a club that has diminished over the past couple of years, "Latin Pride." I hope they take up the challenge and reestablish this once existent program. There is a huge void for the Latino student body at MCC, and hopefully these 13 young men will change that for future generations of Latinos who enroll at MCC.
I would also challenge them to recreate the name of the program, as it labels them already as having a deficit with the word "retention." We all know that they don't have a deficit but rather an untapped opportunity!
Ultimately, what I enjoyed the most, was that these students stood before me as a reflection of myself 13 years ago. Most come from various backgrounds and support systems but all have one thing in common, the desire to do great things. They have much work to be done, but with the guidance of Professor Alas, and Professor Quinones-Rosado they will be just fine.
Good luck and keep Living the Dream mi hermanitos! Adelante!!
Mr. Anibal Soler, Jr.
www.anibalsoler.com
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14 comments:
Thank you very much for taking time out of your "crazy busy" schedule to meet and speak with up and rising Latino males @ MCC. It was rewarding to see (in action) just how powerful 'culturally relevant' strategies can be. I appreciate your important contribution to our efforts to promote motivation, persistence, and academic success for Latinos!
Continue living the dream, Sandra Quiñones Rosado (Rosado is my mother's maiden name- more commonly used in Puerto Rico)
Anibal, I thank you so much for volunteering your time to speak with my students.
I was pleased with your presentation and it was right on target with the main objectives for the course. The students were equally enthused by the presentation and more importantly with having the opportunity to meet you in person.
As part of an assignment during our next class on Tuesday October 7, 2008, the students will be writing in your blog and are encouraged to continue any discussions that might be of interest to them within the parameters of the course.
I was wondering if there are local members of your fraternity that would be interested in visiting the class as well. If so, feel free to pass on my contact information to them or forward their information to me and I will contact them directly.
Lastly and if your schedule allows, I would welcome a second visit from you toward the end of the semester so that you can see the progress of the students.
Again I thank you for you dedication, appreciation and commitment to the Latino culture and for having great respect for education. Como dice el dicho, “Pa’lante, pa’lante--patras, ni pa’ cojer impulso.”
Jorge Alas
Hey This Is David from that class that you came to for latin males, I noticed that you mispelled something, look where it says where students where inspired. but other than that thank you. you insired me to try harder as an idividual. Hope to see you come again,
Ps. the teacher told me to tell you that i found that error.
Hay una lirica que me encanta que dice "Mis sueños son mentiras que algun día dejaran deserlos" Saliendo de una familia pobre Boricua hay muchos que no tienen muchas expectativas de uno. He visto en los ojos de muchos esa ignoracia en pensar que los latinos son estupidos. Yo vivo para contradecir sus expectativas y hacer que mis sueños se hagan realidad. Gracias por pasar el rato con nostros y demostrar que sueños pueden ser alcanzados.
Paz y Bendiciones
Jayson
Hello Mr soler It Maximo from the class with Mr Alas i would like to thank you for your insight and for coming to talk to us. I realy leardned alot from your presentaion it realy motivated me to stay consistant in my work. thanks again
Maximo Perez
P.S the party i went to was thrown by your frat brothers at rit ya really know how to party lol haha
Hey, Anibal this is Luis Pichardo from the class you visited and i want to say that it was great to read the blog you posted of us. Your presentation really set a spark in all of us to do something more and strive to something bigger in our student career witch is starting here in MCC, we all apriciate your interest in us THANK YOU!
Thank you for taking the time to come into our class. your shared some important information. To be succesful in life you need to stay on top of things and really want it.
Thank you for coming to our class. We are thankful for your input on how to be successful. You made an postive impact on our lives. It is good to have an hispanic role model that understands where we are coming from.
I believe the latinos people can do it, can make it realy far if we are determent to do so. Thank you for coming to our class because you are an example of latino pride, you are an evidence of how far e can go. PS To the top
From Christian Cortez
MCC !Rules!
Thanks for your presentation .....you motivated us to keep doing our best to succeed in life. You also inspired us to reactive the Latin Pride club at MCC.........tu sabe sigue representando que cada dia somos mas los latinos en college
Radomir Pedroso
i just want to say thank you for the speech that you gave to us. I really appreciate it
I,m happy that you make to my class , and gave a good speach to the class. I have to say that you made me think. Now I,m trying to better my self, be one of the Latin that graduates, and make it to were they want to be. I want to start the club, but i dont really know were to start from. Maybe with the help of all the others Latin in the class we can make a difference in at MCC. I don't want to Stop with making a change in MCC only i want to make a difference in the community of Latinos. At the same time theres others school that don't have Latin events in there school. I hope that this makes a difference to many Latinos all over the United State read this, and would like to make a difference in there school, and in theres community. This is not the only one a Latinos group made before. Me an a Latino group made a difference in IIT at Edison Tech. By making a Latin assembly.
Thank you for the speech, it was wonderful hearing of another experience of a successful latino in the united states. This also inspire and motivate me to be successful in life representing my culture and my people. Thank you again y sigue pa lante.
how are you doing Mr. Soler,this is charles from the class,i enjoyed your presantation last thuursday. the presentation was really helpful and gave me an insight of strategies and activities that can help our success n college. thank you very much. charles saltares.
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