Personal Narrative: Science Bridge Program

This summer I went Princess Anne, Maryland for a six-week to a science bridge program and this was my first time ever being away from my parents and this was difficult because I depend so much on my parents and being that they were not there was going to be challenging. When I applied for the program I had high expectations that it would be a great experience for me and that I would learn new information about my major and also have the chance to meet new friends all while being away from home. For me being so far from home was such a challenge being that Usually I with either my parents or brothers, so when I was away from my family I was home sick while I was there. I would call my family several times throughout the day while I was away from home. I was not able to enjoy myself while I was in Maryland because I could only reflect about being back with my family. I did not like my experience so much that would find simple issues to be upset about, such as the music played on the vans or how fast they would drive the vans going to field trips. The field trips that we went on were interesting because I learned about my major and what
possible jobs I could have. The other parts of the program were terrible from how the RAs treated us to the dorms that we lived in. The RAs were extremely immature they would take us out to the beach and buy alcohol and for themselves and the students who wanted to drink. This was a horrible experience because I never was in a position where I felt unsafe and I could not leave. Also, the first dorm room that I was given there was mold on the ceiling. I did not know and I have already been in the room for 3 weeks. One would assume that the rooms were inspected before they were allocated. Then to make matters worse the dorm manager tried to make the mold in my room my problem, by asking me why I did not investigate the room and why the windows in my room were open. Instead of just taking responsibility for the problem they tried to put the blame on me.
To make matter worse is that I was away from my family and I could only talk to them on the phone or via Skype.
My cousin, Kim picked me up one weekend and took me to Philadelphia for the weekend. While I was in Philadelphia we went to museums and I tried an authentic Philly cheese steak. I was overwhelmed with excitement that my cousin came to pick me for the weekend that it was my favorite part of my six weeks. Although the program was supposed to be a glimpse of what college is going be like in the fall, that the experience was a terrible example of what college would be like. I learned what people I want to be around and what people I do not while I was in Maryland. Although this is not the type of program that I want to do in the future however, I learned that I am capable of making decisions without the help of my
parents. From this experience, I learned that I hate being away from home. This was too long of a time for me to be away from home for the first time. The one part of my experience I would change is either length of time or the distance. If I was closer to home or not away for so long, I may have enjoyed my time in Maryland. Being that I was consumed by the thought of being in a foreign place, around people that I did not know, and so far from home for so long only made matters worse.