On Saturday, October 22, Destination College members (74) took the ACT for the second time at The University of Akron. For program participants this is a very important day. They take the ACT for the first time in February of their junior year and spend six months after receiving those scores (April - October) preparing to take it for a second time in October of their senior year.

The change in their confidence levels between taking the first ACT and the second is difficult to quantify. After a 10-day Summer Academy that focused on skill development and ACT test-taking strategies and a full day of math review at an event called Mathpalooza, students view the ACT totally differently. According to Akron Public Schools College Access Program Manager, Diettra Engram, "When they take the ACT in October they recognize the traps and tricks embedded in the exam. Many look forward to the challenge of outsmarting the test writers and leave the test feeling confident that their scores have increased."  

Because Destination College focuses so heavily on ACT preparation and student practice, ACT Day is a celebration; albeit the earliest party ever! Mentors picked up students from their high schools before 6 a.m. to bring them to the former Central Hower High School where they had breakfast and worked out last-minute jitters (and sleepiness) before walking over to the ACT registration site on UAs campus. Once the students were in line, mentors held up posters with encouraging messages, whispered last words of support, and took photos before the students were escorted to their respective classrooms. 

The students returned after the test relieved, proud, optimistic, and tired to the sounds of applause and cheering. These are the moments we hope they will take with them and cherish for many years to come. We definitely will.