Alumni Share: The College LAUNCH Impact
We asked recent College LAUNCH Alumni to share their favorite parts of College LAUNCH, tell us which parts of the program were most valuable, and what they’re looking forward to in the future.
Addison Truzy, LAUNCH ’22, shared her thoughts with us:
“There have been so many programs and opportunities during my life that have shaped me into the person I am today. One of the most monumental programs, especially during my last two years of high school, was College LAUNCH! Throughout my time in the program as a participant, I attended monthly sessions with other launch scholars from Winston-Salem where we worked on formulating college essays, how to budget money, presenting a project on an issue within the world, and so much more! During my senior year, I served as an executive board leader for the program where I was able to attend meetings and aid scholars in whatever ways they needed throughout the months. It allowed me to aid and inspire LAUNCH scholars the way that the scholars during my time as a participant did for me. My favorite part of the program was being able to present our project at our graduation and being able to work with people from all over Winston-Salem whom I might not have been able to meet without being in the program.
College LAUNCH played a tremendous role in my preparation for college. Most of the essays I wrote during my time in the program I was able to use on my applications, I had access to the amazing LAUNCH staff who would read and critique my essays, I was connected to numerous LAUNCH alumni, and I was given an amazing recommendation letter! Alongside the essays, were the sessions where we went over the dos and don’ts when it came to interviews. Those sessions not only gave me a head start with my college process but gave me the confidence I needed to apply for scholarships and apply to schools that I originally didn’t believe I could get into. Because of the support and preparation the College LAUNCH program provided, I was able to receive the Morehead-Cain Full Ride Scholarship and several other merit scholarships. I am so grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and life-long friends I made throughout my time in College LAUNCH. I feel incredibly prepared for my next journey as a college student at UNC-Chapel Hill and look forward to using the skills I’ve developed to positively impact the world around me!”