Melissa Eugene
Staff Writer
What Is TRIO?
Every student has their differences; however, many students may experience a time when they feel stuck and require a need for assistance and guidance and sometimes even a community. That’s where TRIO comes in. TRIO provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and more based on the student goals and desires, TRIO motivates students towards successful completion of their postsecondary education.
The main goal for students while in TRIO is retention, engagement, and enrollment. TRIO provides the time and the space to sit down and have a one-on-one, to go over and assess your needs through coaching sessions and to plan out a path to success and goals to achieve.
Why should I join TRIO?
TRIO takes you out of your environment, to attend college tours, helpful webinars, and in-person workshops, giving a student exposure to the resources and places for a student to grow and learn. With exposure, students experience what the future holds for them, which brings the student interest and clarity.
“The significance for first-generation students to feel a sense of belonging—empowering them with a supportive community. I know our students will have a great time and experience the power of why #TRIOWorks,” said TRIO Student Support Services ESL Director Nerly Fertil.
TRIO also includes services such as academic tutoring with advice and assistance in course selection, aiding each student with information on the full range of student financial aid, programs, and resources to help the student succeed by providing a helping hand for locating scholarships and assistance in completing financial aid applications. Students can feel a sense of relief, being provided with the continuance of support, knowledge, and community.
What can TRIO provide to put me on the path to success?
Education or counseling services are designed to improve financial and economic literacy and assist students in applying for admission to graduate and professional programs.
“Together, we’re shaping futures and inspiring dreams to take flight. As a first-generation educator, I couldn’t be more excited to motivate and encourage my students to dream beyond their circumstances,” said TRIO Student Support Services for South Campus, Suzes Casseus.
It takes a village while in college to truly succeed, no matter if it’s study partners, amazing professors, advisors, or being in an organization such as Trio. There always comes a time in college when we need that extra guidance. Although students need their own individualized effort to succeed in college such as studying and time management, it is a lot easier when you have a team and a community to fall back on who wants you to succeed and helps you do so.
TRIO is not just limited to new students. TRIO opens doors to all students who just want to earn a degree and TRIO helps those individuals who never knew having a degree could be possible.
My personal experience with TRIO has been phenomenal. I experienced a time when I felt stuck and needed assistance. I needed that one-on-one coaching and counseling session to get me on the right track and know that I am not alone. And even though this is my journey, it doesn’t have to just be a journey I take alone or a journey I take on alone.
My coach, Bertram Gillings, I was lucky enough to meet my last year of high school, to now being my coach in college for almost two years. He has become more than just a coach; he’s more like family and someone I can go to even without an appointment. Being in Trio has led me to network opportunities, and mental health awareness as well as finding my dream college. TRIO has also given me a second community and clarity with my career path and courses.
Feel free to also join National TRIO Day on Feb. 24 at Central Campus at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome. “For the first time, Broward College will host a National TRIO Day congregating more than 300 students who will soon represent the heart and the muscle of the workforce in our state,” said Zureya Serrano, TRIO Student Support Services Health Science Director.
National TRIO Day is designated as “National TRIO Day” to commemorate the annual achievements of the Federal TRIO programs in communities across the country since 1986. Since then, it has become a tradition to reserve the fourth Saturday in February as National TRIO Day. This day brings forth the opportunity to bring awareness to disadvantaged young people and adults and to raise awareness about the importance of educational opportunity for low-income, first-generation students.
“National TRIO Day is a day to commemorate those that paved the way for us to continue passing the baton in catapulting our future leaders to success. I’m honored to be part of this amazing celebratory event,” said TRIO Director at Broward College N. Hammond.
TRIO form communities, help others, and make dreams happen, TRIO is not just a program it’s a foundation.