Are you a first generation college student, have an economic need and /or have a documented learning or physical disability? Do you a desire to do well–academically and socially–in college and at the same time, help the community as well increase your own personal growth as an individual?
If so, TRiO Student Support Services might just be the program for you. With offices located at Billy F. Cowart Hall 207, TRiO is intended to provide eligible TAMIU students with peer tutoring; academic, career, and personal counseling; an avenue to engage in social and cultural activities; and opportunities to attend leadership conferences across the country.
But what exactly is TRiO SSS? According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site, TRiO was a collection of academic support programs established by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. The first program created was Upward Bound, which was followed in 1965 by Talent Search and by Student Support Services in 1968. Together these three programs became known as “TRiO.”
With all the details out of the way, the best way to truly understand the benefits of any program is to talk directly with someone who has been there. As such, The Bridge was lucky enough to find the perfect individual to inform TAMIU students about TRiO. Joe Molina, currently a graduate assistant with the department of language and literature and an ENGL 1301 instructor, has had the unique opportunity to not only be a TRiO student, but also a TRiO tutor and, now, a TrIO instructor.
The Bridge (B): How did you become involved with TRiO?
Joe Molina (J): In September 2005, I walked into the TRiO office when it used to be on the third floor of the Killam Library because I’d heard they were in need of a writing tutor. I learned the program is open to students who are first generation college students, students with disabilities, or students from low income households. I took an application for the program and so fell the first domino in a series of events that would take me from TRiO student, to tutor, to instructor of the first TRiO section of 1301.
B: How has being involved with TRIO been of benefit to you? Do you think it helped you get to the position you are in? And if so, how did it help?
J: The program made me a little less naive about how the world works. In the summer of 2006, I was one of eight students the TRiO program took to a conference in Los Angeles that was hosted by the National Council of La Raza, which is an organization that celebrates the growing hispanic population in this country. While there, my group did some sightseeing, and on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, I saw my first protest. A couple of hundred people carried signs telling immigrants to go home because they were the reason for murders in this country. It was a typical protest: cops in riot gear walking in front of the shouting protestors, helicopters circling the air like something out of Apocalypse Now, and bystanders on the sidewalk paralyzed with amusement. All of the protestors were Caucasian and some of them shot dirty looks at me because my skin didn’t match theirs. The issue of immigration became an excuse for racism. Living on the border, I was blessedly unaware of how severe the dislike for immigrants/Hispanics was, but out in there in Los Angeles, I got to see the angry face of fear and ignorance. The conference became more meaningful to me after that because I began to understand that the world is filled with people who will knock a person down just because of what they think he or she is.
B: What would TRIO have to offer students besides help with classes?
J: For a lot of students, going to college is no big deal, but there are a good number of students who don’t have support at home. More than once, I’ve had family ask me why I am wasting my time with college because a degree in English has no practical value. It’s pretty discouraging to hear family members pick apart my goals and dreams, but I retaliated by continuing to do my best in college. It is at times like these that TRiO became more than a tutoring service; it became an educational oasis that reminded me I was not alone and that it wasn’t a crime to study and adore literature.
B: In regards to support services, many students have unfortunate misconceptions: only “stupid” people need help. What would you say to those who feel that way?
J: Whether or not a student joins TRiO, I’m pretty sure they have at least one person they can turn to for support-be it a friend, parent, or a boyfriend/girlfriend. However, there are some students who don’t have a warm voice to tell them college is going to work out okay. TRiO is there to help students work through the stress, worry, and heartache that comes with studying at a university, but the program also lets students celebrate the high points of college such as finishing a research paper or acing an exam.
B: How would you describe the transition from TRIO student to TRIO tutor?
J: Because I was also part of the program, my label of “tutor” became less intimidating and made it easier for my students to be honest about what issues they needed help with. Since TRiO is based on semester long contracts, the sooner I was able to create a comfortable working place for my students, the sooner I was able help them.
B: You’re currently teaching a TRiO section of ENGL 1301. What exactly is that about?
J: The TRiO section of ENGL 1301 is a class made up solely of TRiO students. It is part of a learning community so these students are all taking University Seminar, History 1301, and ENGL 1301 together. My part in this plan is to get my students from where they are as writers now, to where they should be come time for ENGL 1302. My students are going to be assigned a writing tutor to help them with the course, but I still remember when I was a tutor helping students with papers for this or that professor.
B: What final words do you have to someone thinking about joining TRIO?
J: I had no clue when I walked into the TRiO office four Septembers ago, that I’d someday be an instructor for the program. To any readers on the fence about joining, I say this: aside from helping out with school, the TRiO program opens many doors for you, whether you realize the doors are there for you or not.
After reading Joe’s thoughts and personal experiences with TRiO, if you are interested in learning more about TRiO, please feel free to visit their offices or Web site at http://www.tamiu.edu/adminis/pase/trio/.