Every summer, Noble Schools sends over 1,000 sophomores to Summer Of A Lifetime (SOL) programs across the country. SOL programs provide scholars with the opportunity to get onto college campuses and get a sneak peek into what the collegiate experience is all about. At Muchin, our scholars were accepted to programs at all kinds of colleges and universities for this summer, including the University of Illinois, Albion, Lawrence Tech, to University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard, and more! In late June and July, these scholars will temporarily move onto these campuses, attend classes, and engage in activities with sophomores from high schools across the United States.
For a majority of these scholars, it will be their first time on a college campus or being away from home for an extended period of time. They are extraordinarily excited about their SOL experience this year, especially given that most of their recent schooling experiences, trips, and extracurricular activities were canceled or modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hear from these three Muchin students who are set to take off on their Summer Of A Lifetime trips this July:
Dorien Manning | Program Location: Western Illinois University
Q: What are you most excited about for Summer Of A Lifetime?
A: “I’m most excited to be able to get out of the house for a bit! Normally, during the summer, I’m just cooped up in my room watching murder or cop shows. Instead, I’ll be on an actual college campus taking CSI classes. That is so cool! I’m really interested to learn about the process that happens when someone dies or is murdered —I want to learn about how you figure out what happens through the scene and the body. I’m also really excited to explore a new area and meet new people. When I’m not in class, I plan to be out exploring as much as possible. I’ve stayed away from home before for an extended period of time, so I’m not worried about being homesick, but I will miss my dog! I know my mom will take good care of them, though, and I’m excited to tell them about the experience when I’m back.”
Q: What is your plan post-high school, and how do you feel that this experience will help you reach that goal?
A: “After high school, I really want to go to USC, UCLA, or LSU. I’ve heard really good things about all of them. I think my plan is to go into CSI, but we’ll see what I think after taking classes this summer. If not, I’m interested in a career as a veterinarian or as an astro-chemist.
SOL is going to give me a great opportunity to travel away from home, take college classes, and make new friends. I think I’ll be really prepared for college as a result of this experience.”
Ariana Guzman | Program Location: Johns Hopkins University
Q: What are you most excited about for Summer Of A Lifetime?
A: “I’m most excited to be granted this new opportunity. I cannot wait to travel out East, as I’ve never been there before, and experience a new setting and community. I’m looking forward to meeting other people my age from places outside of Chicago who have similar interests. I cannot wait to learn from new people, and I am excited to be challenged in new ways. At Johns Hopkins, I’ll be taking an “Introduction to Surgery” class where I’ll actually learn how to stitch! I can’t imagine another time that I would get that kind of experience at such a young age.
I am also eager to leave home for a bit—for the first time ever on my own. I am ready to gain a new sense of independence and prepare myself for what it’ll be like when I go to college out of state. I help out around the house a lot, but I’ve never experienced actually living on my own, and I am really excited for the chance to hold myself accountable to that balance, in addition to taking classes and making new friends.”
Q: What is your plan post-high school, and how do you feel that this experience will help you reach that goal?
A: “After high school, I plan to attend a 4-year university and get not only my bachelor’s but also my master’s degree. I have always wanted to be a pediatrician, but lately, I’ve been more interested in the field of OB-GYN. However, I know there are so many different fields so I’m really just grateful to have been granted this experience to learn more about the medical field in general, especially at such a prestigious university.
I know that SOL will not only give me a taste of college and collegiate-level classes but that Johns Hopkins specifically will be a great introduction to the medical field. I can’t wait to make friends who I can stay in touch with after this experience as we start our journeys in the medical field after high school.”
Jocelyn Pacheco | Program Location: Harvard University
Q: What are you most excited about for Summer Of A Lifetime?
A: “For Summer Of A Lifetime, I am most excited to learn about something new. I think it’ll be a really good way to see exactly what I’m getting into in my future, both in terms of leaving home but also experiencing a rigorous college education.
I’m also looking forward to learning a bit about what it’s like to go away from home and be more independent. I’m not going to lie, I’ve grown up pretty sheltered, and I haven’t been far away from home or away for very long. I can’t wait to see what it’s like to take a plane by myself, be more independent, and be on my own without my parents’ supervision. I’m excited to meet new people—I really hope that I get to make friends there, like my roommates or people in the other courses. I have a friend who is going so I’m not afraid that I’ll be totally alone, and I know we’ll meet people together.”
Q: What is your plan post-high school, and how do you feel that this experience will help you reach that goal?
A: “After high school, I plan to go to college and then law school. I’ve always dreamed of being a lawyer. If given the opportunity, I’d love to go to Harvard Law School one day. Ultimately, though, I know that my experience at SOL will be the foundation of what helps prepare me for something like Harvard Law, giving me more tools to navigate it and also just helping me grow. Above all, I want to make my parents proud.”
