Christina Roberts
Senior, Comparative History of Ideas & English

As a Native American child growing up with a variety of family problems, I considered college an impossible dream. My salvation came with a high school counselor's encouragement for me to apply to the Upward Bound program. It is a federally funded UW program that gives disadvantaged students the tools to succeed in their freshman year. It really set me on the right path.

Beginning the summer before my Freshman year, I took Upward Bound courses like reading and study skills, math, science and writing. The counselors really helped with my transition to college life. I had planned to work toward a science degree, but after two years, I embraced my true passions of literature and history through the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) program. Personally, the CHID program has been most influential because of its ability to push me to look outside of my comfort bubble, a not-entirely-welcome exploration at times. I will soon finish my undergraduate work with a double degree in English and CHID. In addition, I have won a McNair Scholarship to conduct postgraduate research on Native American women's literature, and I now see the completion of a Ph.D. in English as a possibility. One of my best experiences overall has been my work with Upward Bound, the same program that helped me to believe in my abilities. Through my work there, I have been able to help other students find their way, and to find themselves in the University.

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