Asia Rosa

Utica College Partnerships Program Alumni

When did you graduate high school, and which high school did you attend?
I graduated in 2014 from Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica, NY.

What are you up to now?
I am currently enrolled in a masters education program that focuses on leadership in the classroom and inclusive strategies within the classroom. I am on track to graduate this coming May. I am employed by Utica College working with my old LPP program, Young Scholars as one of the site assistants at the high school.

How did you get involved with Liberty Partnerships?
My involvement with the program started when I was nominated to become a Young Scholar student in 6th grade. Once I went through the selection process and was selected, I participated in multiple activities and events available to Young Scholars to this day.

What are some of your favorite activities/programs that you did through Liberty Partnerships?
I was an active participant and completed over 150 hours of community. Programs that I participated in were, the Summer Enrichment Program (7th grade to 9th grade), Women in Math and Science, Health Internship, Colgate Seminar Sessions I & II. As well as going on college visits to UAlbany, Hartwick College, Colgate University, St. Lawrence University, Ithaca College, Syracuse University, SUNY Morrisville, and a few more. Young Scholars broaden my life experiences when we were able to visit Washington D.C and go camping in Malone, NY. The camping trip was something out of my comfort zone and it allowed me to see what limits I could push myself to as an individual. These experiences strengthened my communication and leadership skills.

Describe how Liberty Partnerships shaped your life both in and out of the classroom.
Young Scholars has molded and supported me to become the individual I am today. Throughout the experience I have gained through the program transformed a soft-spoken, shy girl with low confidence, to a young lady that is ambitious, valued, and determined. Through the exposure to a diverse set of students in my cohort and surrounding cohorts, I felt more immersed and prepared for daily encounters in my professional and personal life today. The Young Scholars Program exposed me to experiences that built up my knowledge of politics, education, and cultures. The overall program has taught me how to become a civilized young adult and has taught me how to give back to those who helped you.

What are you most proud of?
Being able to give back to the program that helped me. I currently work with the Young Scholars Program as a Site Assistant at the high school and it is nostalgic. I am proud of embodying and exhibiting the values that Young Scholars had instilled in me and being able to reflect that onto the upcoming generation. I take pride in participating in all the events that Young Scholars encouraged and being able to be a role model and goal for students in the program to achieve.

What advice do you have for current students?
Take in everything with pride and be resilient. Do not let anyone knock you down and you will always have support from your liberty partnership program because it is a family.