As many of the learners from our Readiness Institute Summer Program know, our connection doesn’t just end after the summer. We continue to stay in touch with learners when they go back for their senior year, after they graduate high school, and beyond. We recently checked in with some of the young adults who were a part of the inaugural cohort of the Summer Program in 2021. They have now graduated high school and are on to their next steps of adulthood. This series will feature several of our Readiness Institute Summer Program alums to see where they are now, hear about their favorite memories of the summer experience, and collect any words of advice for their fellow alums!
Morgan Texter
Where are you now?
I am currently attending PennWest Edinboro and I am studying forensic science as I want to become a forensic anthropologist. I am also in marching band in the color guard!
How has your life changed since the Readiness Institute?
I have become more studious since leaving the Readiness Institute. I am aiming to make the Dean’s List, so I must study very hard to achieve that! I have started to come out of my shell, and I am more outgoing now. When I was at the Readiness Institute, I was shy, but throughout the summer, I became more confident, and that has continued to grow until now!
How did the Readiness Institute prepare you for where you are now?
When I was in high school, I did not feel as though my school prepared me enough for college. When I attended the Readiness Institute, I was prepared for my senior year of high school. They showed me how to look for college, what to expect in college. In the workshops that the Readiness Institute gives us in the fall after the Summer Program, they helped me write my college essay and apply for FAFSA. Thinking back, I am grateful for the Readiness Institute for helping me so much to prepare for where we are now.
What is your favorite memory of the Readiness Institute?
My favorite memory is the cohort I was in. From the beginning of the Summer Program, we became very close, and I met a lot of new friends that summer! I really enjoyed our trip to Astrobotic. It was very cool to see the Moon Lander they were working on, and that entire day was very fun!