NJ Asssemblywoman Shavonda Sumter Celebrates GEAR-UP Week at PCCC
New Jersey Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter celebrated National GEAR-UP Week with PCCC in a special program for local students held on the Main Campus in Paterson.
Marking a 25th anniversary this year, GEAR-UP is a nationwide program that provides academic support, counseling, and financial literacy services to students in grades 7-12 with the goal to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The name is an acronym for Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.
The GEAR-UP department at PCCC welcomed students from local School No. 2, School No. 10, and Alexander Hamilton School for the September 24 program held in the PCCC Theater on the Main Campus in Paterson.
Born and raised in Paterson, Assemblywoman Sumter held the attention of her young audience with stories about a personal success journey that took her from being a student in several of the city’s schools to graduating from Kean University, earning a master’s degree from Fairleigh-Dickinson University, landing a good job, and buying a home by the age of 24 in Paterson.
Ms. Brunson proves the point of the paper-cutting challenge: What may seem impossible can be accomplished.
“You can succeed when you believe in the possibility that you can succeed,” said the assemblywoman, adding that “There’s no substitute for good character. What image of yourself do you want the world to see?”
A champion for her hometown, Ms. Sumter, who represents New Jersey’s District 35, maintains an office in Paterson and told the students that some people she met couldn’t believe that a successful assemblywoman was from Paterson.
“Paterson is a great place, and what made it great for me was the people. It’s community that makes the difference,” she said to assure the students that coming from Paterson does not mean they can’t succeed.
Recognizing the opportunities and success she has had, Ms. Sumter said she felt an obligation to give back and that inspired her to run for office. “We make laws for 9.5 million people, we fought for funding for teachers, and we believe you can achieve,” she declared, describing what her role as an assemblywoman entails.
Earlier in the program, Tonya McCombs, the GEAR-UP Middle School Lead teacher at PCCC gave a rousing speech to the students, encouraging them to always be their best selves and not give in to self-defeating behaviors “Be who you really are,” she said. “And start planning for college now, so you’ll be ready when the time comes.”
In a fun and surprising game, Dawn Brunson, Director of Pre-College Programs at PCCC called a volunteer student from each school in the audience to come onstage and participate in a challenge of possibility.Each took a piece of 8.5 x 11 paper and cut a circle out of it. “Do you think I can fit through that circle?” she asked. No one thought it was possible.
What followed was an exercise in following directions that didn’t seem to make sense, working together, and believing in the person giving directions who assured participants the outcome was possible. It was…as one circle after another passed over Ms. Brunson’s head and all the way down to her feet.
“This is what the GEAR-UP program is about,” she told them. “What you think is impossible is not, but you need to follow the guidance and believe it’s possible.”
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