This program allowed me to have a growing appreciation for reading starting at a young age. As the summer approaches for any young student, they normally look forward to doing things that have nothing to do with school. So when I first heard about this program, you can assume I was not ecstatic to join. However, during the two summers I spent in the program what I enjoyed the most was the freedom of choice. I looked forward to choosing all six books I would get to read and keep, and eventually as you go through book after book, it got fun. What I didn’t realize in the end was that when I started a new school year after the Read to Succeed program, I never felt like I was behind academically. Not only did my enjoyment for reading increase but so did the quality of work I was producing in class, and it was exponential from there. Read to Succeed stayed with me well after middle school. With the funds I received from the summer program, additional scholarships, and paid fellowships I was able to afford four years of college, without asking my parents for financial support.

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 – Abigail Fleurima