ABSTRACT
Taking required courses taught me that I have to care about what I study to do really well at it. Reflecting on what fully engaged my interest and energy, I thought of two extra-curricular activities. In freshman year I had joined a group convened by students who wanted the college to create a summer program for disadvantaged secondary school students. With some private contributions and college approval, the program got underway. I did not apply to be a counselor because the pay was too little to make much of a dent in my college expenses. The pay improved the following year when the program was funded by Upward Bound, one of the new Great Society programs. I helped to write the proposal and then spent the next three summers with Upward Bound, directing the play the students performed for parents and friends at the end of the summer, and becoming head counselor. Senior year I directed the school-year program that we designed to provide tutoring and other support to participants.
