As some of you know, I did not grow up
\nin upstate New York. I actually grew up in Northeast Philadelphia.
\nI’d say it’s one of the nicer and safer areas of the city but it is
\nnonetheless a part of the city.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
That means, it is part of the
\nPhiladelphia school district. I went to some of best public schools
\nthere were in the area but they were still underfunded, overcrowded and at times
\ndepressing. There weren’t nearly as many opportunities as there are
\nin more well off neighborhoods and the drop out rate was high. Some
\nkids went home to dangerous areas of the city or broken homes. School
\nwas their only sanctuary.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Parent involvement is typically lower
\nin less fortunate areas. Not for lack of caring… try holding down
\nthree jobs just to make ends meet. School and after school activities
\nare lifesavers for your household.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
I graduated from Northeast High School
\n(NEHS) in 2005 and it truly had many unique programs. There was a
\nculinary department, a day care where students could work and a
\nprogram for the mentally handicapped. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure
\nwhat has or hasn’t been cut but I know many are gone.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
One program I know has been cut is
\nproject SPARC, which is why I was inspired to write this blog
\npost. I just found out a couple weeks ago and it was heart breaking. I couldn’t stand the thought that something that defined my high
\nschool career and prepared me for college, as well as my current
\ncareer, will no longer be around for future students to experience.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Hopefully, Jessica Hattina, the current
\nrobotics manager of the project will not mind if I steal her Facebook comment that
\nanswers the question, “What is project SPARC?”. She put it so
\nwell, I don’t think I need to go over it again…<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
“…SPARC [Space Research Center] originated in
\n1962 by Mr. Robert A. G. Montgomery and was designed to introduce the
\nstudy of aerospace research to high school students. These students
\ndesigned and built a three-man space capsule mock-up to test the
\nstudent astronauts ability to handle the space environment. With the
\nhelp of a grant from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Heart Association,
\nthe program purchased electronic equipment and began to study in
\nflight control instrumentation. Project SPARC was so highly
\nrecognized for its work that, during the summer of 1963, NASA invited
\n18 SPARC students to tour the Marshall Space Flight Center.\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
After President George W. Bush’s
\nannounced his vision for the Space Exploration, the project was then
\nupdated to simulate the NASA Constellation program and its mission to
\nreturn to the moon. In 2009 Project SPARC [had their] first
\n[simulated] Constellation mission [in which] six students [were sent]
\nto the moon and establish[ed] a two-module lunar habitat. SPARC
\nfacilities include the ‘Shuttle Orbiter mock-up built by the
\nstudents, [an] actual Apollo training capsule from NASA, an eight
\nstation mission control, a movie and animation learning center and
\nelectronics and a robotics laboratory…”<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
What makes SPARC so special? It’s one of
\na kind; students from all over the city apply to NEHS’s magnet
\nprogram to participate. It provides a chance to learn engineering
\nskills and has produced several generations of engineers and
\nscientists that are contributing to the scientific community
\neveryday. It gives those kids that are shunned for being geeks a
\nplace to go and be creative. Not to mention it’s space related and… I love space!<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Now that I have shared information
\nabout this amazing project that has lost all funding, I just want to
\nexplore why programs like this are so important for students
\neverywhere.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
First off, students in inner cities are
\nalready at a disadvantage. There parents typically don’t have much
\nmoney to spare and college can seem like a far away dream. These
\ntypes of programs make students stand out when they applying to college and other higher education programs.
\nExtracurricular activities, especially those related to a student’s field of interest and those in which a student has held a leadership
\nposition, can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Extracurricular activities teach
\nstudents things they can’t get in the classroom. Having a
\ncommon goal with those who are passionate about things you are is
\nvery powerful. It allows for more
\ncreativity, team work and a real sense of responsibility.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Some studies have shown that these
\nprograms can help students reduce stress. Whether that comes from it
\nbeing a physically active sport or from it being about doing something they enjoy,
\nreduced stress in this competitive world is always a positive thing.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Student can show off talents that they
\nmight otherwise not be able to. The fact is, not everyone meant to go
\nto college and work a nine to five job. Programs teaching cooking
\nskills, mechanical skills and sports can be just as helpful as math
\nand science in getting into advanced education programs. These careers have great pay and can provide someone with satisfaction in life.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
These programs keep kids busy and off the streets.
\nIn cities this is especially important. Everyone wants to feel they
\nbelong somewhere. Providing positive environments gives them a place
\nto focus their energy in a positive way, as opposed to getting into
\ngangs, drugs and other risky behaviors.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Perhaps most importantly, statistics
\nshow that students who participate in such activities do better in
\nschool. This prompts higher self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n