Eureka Graduation – Vet Rep
Jaylin’s remarks from the Eureka! Summer 2019 graduation:
Hello, my name is Jaylin Sims. I’ve been given the opportunity to share my experiences at Eureka! with the audience today.
First, I’d like to thank Ms. Emily for giving this opportunity to me and I am truly honored. I’d like to also thank the Eureka! and UNO staff members, as it was they who made Eureka! accessible and better. Lastly, I’d like to thank my family, they’ve been my rock since day one and I wouldn’t know where I would have been without them.
My memories at Eureka! have been amazing. Eureka! focuses on the empowerment of women in fields where women are underrepresented. The science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM program helps us achieve knowledge and keep the skills that we’ve learned in mind throughout our adolescent lives.
Throughout this month, I’ve built poignant relationships with my peers and younger classmates. Since the rookies are younger than us, I’ve had to step up into the big sister role of guiding them through Eureka!. They didn’t need much guidance because our amazing staff helped all of them throughout the camp. I’ve gotten to talk and interact with many of the younger girls, and I can say that I consider all of them my little sisters.
I’ve also made impactful relationships with the older girls/ Vets. Girls I hadn’t known, I’ve become great friends with. Vets I didn’t think would like my personality, had become some of my closet friends. Eureka! has given me the convenience of having devoted friends, which has benefitted me emotionally and mentally. These girls have become some of the most essential people in my life and I consider all of them my family.
Eureka! has not only given me positive relationships, but it has also advanced my learning skills. During the month at Eureka!, we would have classes from 10:00 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. through 2:00 p.m., and in those few hours I learned a great deal. Eureka! has improved many of my skills by inserting easier steps to get to the solution, both in life and in geometry. I understood science better by being in Eureka!; I was one of the few girls at the top of my honor classes this year in school. Eureka! programming helped me achieve an A in geometry class.
I’ve loved them the two years that I’ve been at Eureka! – from learning about business to being able to create a substance which could, in fact, protect us from a zombie apocalypse one day. I can’t wait to go on this journey through high school with these girls by my side. All of you have impacted me greatly, and I am proud of each one of you for graduating today!
