Bottom Line

Meet Luz Mederos-Dorleans!

BIO: Luz Angelica Mederos-Dorleans is currently a double husky at Northeastern University. She is pursuing her Master’s in School Counseling and received her B.S. in Business Administration. Her goal is to work in the Boston Public School system as a school counselor after graduation. She enjoys playing video games, hanging out with friends and trying out new recipes. Her plan is to finish her education and stay close to her friends and family in Boston.

High School: Snowden International

College: Northeastern University

Graduation Year: 2008

Job: The Steppingstone Foundation, Support Services Senior Associate

Bottom Line Memory: While having a tough time during finals, I remember receiving a Bottom Line care package in the mail. At the time, my advisor wrote me a personal note that lifted my spirits. It was what I needed at the time to regain my confidence. I will never forget that moment.

If I could send a care package, I’d fill it with: Candy, personal notes and more snacks!

Why I stay involved with Bottom Line: Because my success wouldn’t have been possible without their encouragement and support.

People would be surprised to learn that I used to: Live on campus my freshmen year of college. I literally live two blocks away from Northeastern. I really wanted to experience the college life.

The BEST part of being a college graduate is: Starting my next phase in life. I am now able to focus on things that interest me. I have decided to pursue a Master’s in School Counseling and will graduating in 2014. I can’t wait!

The HARDEST part about being a college graduate is: Finding the time to balance work and my social life. It is tough but it is nice to be able to prioritize fun things in my busy schedule.

Join me in supporting Bottom Line by….

• I donated the cost of two care packages; join me and donate $25 today!
• I volunteered at one of their networking events and talked to college students about the next steps after college. Share your wisdom with others!  (If you have 3+ years of experience, become a Go Far Volunteer)

Meet Janeal Hoyte!

Janeal Hoyte is a recent college graduate from the University of Massachusetts Boston (Class of 2012). She previously graduated from Lynn Classical High School (Class of 2008). Janeal now works full time as a paralegal at law firm in Beverly, MA named Doonan, Graves, & Longoria, LLC. Janeal also just finished taking the LSAT  and is currently applying for law school in the fall of 2013.

If Janeal had to fill a care package with something it would be a Cheez-It’s. She stays involved with Bottom Line because Bottom Line was a great support system and advisor when she was graduating high school going into college, in college, and now that she wants to further her education in the legal setting. Bottom Line “is an amazing place and outlet for knowledge. The staff are not only amazing but very helpful. I would recommend Bottom Line to anyone.”

The best part of being a college graduate is being able to say “I did it!!!” and having a feeling of accomplishment. The hardest part about being a college graduate is waking up EARLY every morning to go to work as opposed to class and only being in school for a few hours.

Join me in supporting Bottom Line by helping make care package for undergrads this year!

Success Counselor Kira Terrill talking with a student at our Worcester Office

It’s hard for my First Year students to believe that the Fall 2012 semester is almost over! With that disbelief also comes the students’ awareness that their grades may not be as good as they were in high school. Many students really struggle with the transition from high school level to college level work.  Luckily, Bottom Line students have their counselors to really help guide them through the transition.  Bottom Line addresses this issue by providing summer programming and has developed specific tools to help our students find success during their critical first year.

Our summer transition program includes both group workshops and one-on-one meetings. One workshop on time management always seems to be especially eye-opening. After adding classes and study time to a weekly schedule, counselors bombarded students with different responsibilities and activities that also needed to be taken care of, on top of all of their studying and homework!  I can remember one student shouting “I don’t have time for all of this extra stuff!” Although a little early, it was an easy way for students to prepare for things they were about to face during their first (and every other) year of college. Some students immediately internalize the lesson and others need more reinforcing once they arrive on campus.

This fall, I’ve been working with many First Year students on improving their time management and study skills. I have 38 First Year students at four different colleges and have had 196 campus meetings and phone follow-ups this fall.  Additionally, I met with over 50% of my First Years who felt like they needed extra support for time management and test prep strategies meetings. Simply reading over notes doesn’t really cut it on college exams. My students and I have worked together to create study plans tailored to each of their exams, as well as their learning needs. With some students, I can simply suggest recopying and summarizing notes or making flashcards for vocabulary words. With other students, they may need to draw diagrams, attend tutoring and office hours, and form study groups. Helping students create these study plans and break down when things need to be done, makes the task of studying a little less daunting. Showing students how to put in a little extra effort and attack problems from different directions to make success possible shows the value of our meetings to my students and is why I love working for Bottom Line.

– Kira Terrill

Success Counselor

By the first week of November, I have packaged – Bottom Line lingo for submitting college applications with our students – seven students on my caseload of sixty-two. This is a huge step in the life of each Bottom Line student for a variety of reasons. Our students are often the first in their family to apply to college and, in many instances, are the first in their families to be on track to graduate from high school.

Packaging meetings last at least two hours; however, since Halloween candy appeared in the office, they have been running a little longer. Being the dork that I am, I started calling them “Snackaging” meetings; mostly to satisfy my own desire to sneak puns into my meetings, but also to break the ice and calm my students through the intense experience of actually hitting submit. After their college essays are checked twice (just like Santa’s list), and their Common Application and other applications are filled out – “I’s dotted and T’s crossed” – they sit down, fingers hovering over the mouse for a second, and, in one tiny movement, change the trajectory of the their prescripted lives. After submitting, our work here at Bottom Line is nowhere near done. We spend the last few minutes of these meetings creating checklists for follow-up and broaching the subject of financial aid – another application process we assist students with beginning in January.

Before our students head home, out into the wintry air, perhaps traveling over an hour on public transportation to get home – magic happens. In advance of their meeting, a yellow star is made with the name of said student printed in bold lettering. After a student has clicked submit, they place their stars on a wall in the office under the statement “I Hit Submit!” When a student makes a move towards the wall, star in head, whispers begin to fly around the office.  Heads turn and both counselors and students stop their work to clap as the student proudly places the star on the wall. “I have applied,” they silently declare, one giant leap towards something more.

On August 14 and 15, hundreds of students in Bottom Line’s Success Program celebrated the beginning of their college careers at Success Send-Off events in Worcester and Boston. On the 14th, 75 Worcester students gathered at Hanover Insurance’s national headquarters to get to know their new college classmates and participate in team-building exercises. On the 15th, over 200 Boston students converged on Hill Holiday’s high-rise offices for a night of celebration and reflection.

Two future Framinham State Alumnae

At the Boston Send-Off, Robert Lewis, Jr., Vice President for Program with The Boston Foundation, gave a rousing speech encouraging students to live up their potential and to work with their Success Counselors.

“Knowing that you have someone from Bottom Line here, knowing that you’re coming here with other great students that are your support network…the shot you have to succeed is great,” said Mr. Lewis.

At the Worcester Send-Off, Yuisa Peréz Chionchio, Advanced Placement Coordinator for Worcester Public Schools and member of Bottom Line Worcester’s Advisory Board, stressed how college can help students become America’s future leaders.

Students left the Send-Offs energized and hopeful. And, when they need support, as Mr. Lewis reminded students, “Bottom Line is only a phone call away.”

See video of Robert Lewis’ speech>>

See video of Yuisa Perez Chionchio’s speech>>