The 128 freshmen boarded a bus to DePaul University in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. They were introduced to college life and told what to expect in four years when they start college.
"To plant the seed in their minds that college is there [and] their four years at North Lawndale are really just a stepping stone," Rob Karpinski said. Karpinski is the director of Catholic School relations at DePaul.
The high school hopes the visit helps the students focus on their educational goals. It is part of an effort to get students motivated and thinking about college. The freshmen got a tour of campus and participated in team-building activities.
"One of the young women said, 'I feel famous. I feel like this is the paparazzi,'" Janay Joyce, North Lawndale counselor, said.
The visit got some students thinking about their future careers.
"Maybe I could be an officer, maybe get some computer design," said Ahmad Trimeel.
"I got four choices, maybe. I know how to play guitar so I will probably be a musician. I like building stuff, so an engineer, or pro football," Thomas Greenwood, student, said.
This is the fourth year of the joint program between DePaul and North Lawndale Prep.
