AALEADers Explore Georgetown University!
By Tina Ngo, AALEAD Staff
Photos Courtesy of Tina Ngo, AALEAD Staff
This past weekend, seven youth from Asian American LEAD’s (AALEAD) Mentoring Program, MD High School Program, and VA High School Program had the exciting opportunity to participate in a tour of Georgetown University (GU) with Georgetown University, School of Medicine’s Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (GUSOM APAMSA). It was a beautiful day to explore the campus and learn more about what college life is like from current university students! Our awesome tour guides started us off with a round table discussion about our youth and what they are interested in studying. They then opened up the floor for our students to ask any questions they might have pertaining to college. AALEADers had so many great questions, ranging from Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Advanced Placement (AP) class preparation to how to select your own majors, and even college entrance requirements.
From there, the GUSOM APAMSA team divided our group in two for the first half of our tour around the School of Medicine. Fortunately for us, it was also homecoming weekend, so campus was buzzing with energy, and youth got to see all of the alumni returning to campus as well. We kicked off the tour with a visit to some of the school’s lectures halls and the Dahlgren Memorial Library, which is open 24/7. Youth also had the opportunity to check out maps of the United States where School of Medicine students are placed for their residencies, hallways dedicated to a variety of societies that each School of Medicine student is placed in, alumni photos, and the Caduceus Student Lounge. AALEADers were especially impressed by how hi-tech the lounge was and the emergency shower dispensers located around the school.
Our group then embarked on the second half of the tour and visited the undergraduate campus, where youth discovered a variety of dorms, libraries, and famous buildings. From the beautifully remodeled Healy Center to the McDonough School of Business and even the historical Healy Hall, students were enthralled by the wonderful mix of modern and traditional architecture around the university. We ended the tour at the University Bookstore, where AALEADers received a small taste of GU spirit and perused all of the school paraphernalia available there.
For many of our youth who participated in this tour, it was either their first time visiting GU and/or a college campus. Opportunities like college visits connect our youth to the local community and all of the great resources and universities that are available right here in the heart of their hometowns, the greater DC Metro area. Additionally, providing a safe space where youth can explore different options beyond secondary school allows them to build confidence in making the appropriate decisions for themselves.
A million thanks to the wonderful GUSOM APAMSA, who coordinated the tour, and to the amazing AALEADers and mentors who joined us for this event. We hope everyone enjoyed the lovely day we got to spend together as much as we did and can’t wait to see you all again next time!