It's 8:30 am on a Saturday morning and my fellow tutors and I at Rutgers Upward Bound are hanging out in the conference room. While waiting for our high school students to arrive so we can start our tutor sessions, we conversate for a little bit.
"I didn't know you were a transfer too," said my coworker, Allison.
"Yea I transfered just this year," replied Kristin.
"I'm a transfer too. Where did you guys transfer from?" said Walter. Both of my coworkers transfered from community colleges in their hometowns. I asked Walter where he transfered from.
"Jail," he says. We all laugh.
Wait... What?
Former Inmate Turned First Year Interest Group Peer Instructor: An Interview with a Staff Member
For those who saw the Rutgers.edu home page last week, many will recognize him from one of the 4 articles being featured. My coworker, the Rutgers Upward Bound physics tutor, is Walter Fortson.
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| Walter Fortson. He's very tall in person. |
It's true, he did transfer to Rutgers from jail. Originally from Philadelphia, Walter attended Temple University. Earning 41 credits and working a series of odd jobs, he recounted how bills started racking up and how some of his jobs didn't fall through so well. An opportunity consisting of selling cocaine presented itself and Walter took it. Explaining his series of events from getting caught to his first night in jail, Walter told our coworkers and me that the stereotypical idea of constant jail fights doesn't always happen in jail. However, he did witness his first jail fight during his first night behind bars. From that point on, Walter knew he couldn't be there.
"How did you eventually get into Rutgers?" I asked. While in the correctional facility, Walter met Professor Donald Roden from Rutgers University. Professor Roden founded the Mountain View Project, a program here at the University dedicated to reaching out to those in prison and giving them the chance to grasp educational opportunities in order to better their lives. Since their first meeting, Professor Roden has provided Walter with the support and inspiration needed to get him into Rutgers.
Since that moment, Walter has thrived during his years at Rutgers. He's an honors student in the School of Arts and Sciences, an SAS Academic Excellence Award winner, McNair Scholar, Mountainview Project Student Organization chair and co-founder, 2012 Truman Scholar, TEDxRutgers speaker and a tutor at Upward Bound. Prior to this conversation about transfers and drug dealing, I had seen Walter sporting a First-Year Interest Group Seminar jacket during our Saturday tutoring sessions. I had to ask him about this!
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| Walter and Professor Roden |
Walter is currently majoring in Exercise Science and Sports Studies. As a First-Year Interest Group Seminar (FIGS) Peer Instructor, Walter works with first years during his Exploring Exercise Science and Sports Psychology FIGS. He understands what they struggle with and he touched on two strong points first years need to know.
Networking
When we were talking, he said it is never too early to start networking. As tuition paying students of the University, most of us fail to realize this wide range of world renown faculty and staff readily available to us. Walter stressed that people outside of college are willing to pay good money to meet with these researchers and experts for consulting or collaborating; however, we are only a short conversation or email away from meeting with them during office hours. Meet with your professors! Here are some tips:- Professors are always willing to meet with students. They actually enjoy it.
- Even if you are doing well in the class, stop by and meet with your professor. Talk about how he/she got to where he/she currently is. Ask them any random or related questions.
- Keep a dialogue going with the professors you identify with the most because later on you will never know how beneficial it will be.
Networking gives us opportunities such as research experience, internships, jobs and access to a community of valuable, resourceful individuals. As first years entering a huge university, we need use the large community to our advantage. The more experience we gain and the more people we interact with along the way will enhance our time at the University and eventually benefit us in the long run.
GPA
Walter noticed that many first years make the mistake of not putting their all into their grades during their first two years at the University. It's understandable. First years are still making that transition from high school into college. Most of them are still figuring out where they want to go major wise and career wise. However, Walter really stressed the importance of building a strong foundation now rather than playing catch up later when you're an upperclassmen. His justification is,
"GPA isn't everything but GPA gives you access to everything"
Earning a high GPA as soon as possible is as beneficial as building up your network. Here's why:
- First years who didn't get into the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program during their senior year of high school can still gain admission while at Rutgers. Check out what you need here.
- Your chances of getting that job, committee position or internship increase.
- Jobs and committee positions through the University require you to maintain a certain GPA while employed; internships also. Already having that strong GPA will eliminate any worries about maintaining a certain grade while trying to balance work.
Ways to build up that GPA are give yourself a GPA goal (ex: by the end of the semester I'm aiming for a 3.5), take classes that are challenging but not overwhelming, go to office hours (networking!), see tutors, form study groups with your friends, do the readings and homework even if these assignments aren't checked, and attend class!
Finally, while this may sound silly, I asked Walter what he thought about students who do network and build up their GPA immediately but are also on the receiving end of those joking remarks from fellow peers about being a nerd or brown-nosing just a little too early. His response?
"It's kind of funny. When I was in jail, all the guys around me and I would say 'you know, I wish I was the nerd back in the day.' Instead of putting him down or bullying him, this nerd is the one who's rolling up in a BMW with a hot girl next to him now. People put you down, but it's because you're going places they aren't."
An early morning conversation with my coworkers turned into something inspirational and helpful for all first years, even current students.
For more on Walter Fortson, check out these articles about him!
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