Bridges Counselors

Bridges counselors at training camp

The Bridges to a Brighter Future program began in 1997 and has grown exponentially over the past 15 years. Yet, among all of the forward steps that the program has made, one element has been put on the back-burner. That element is online media. When schoolwork, scholarships, applications, and deadlines are on the forefront of the itinerary, one might question the importance of a media component, or even ignore it altogether. Yet, as we team up to help Bridges with a media facelift, we can see why it is so crucial to have a functioning social media network tied to Twitter, Facebook, and blogging. It is necessary for donors, counselors, and current and prospective students to have a forum that contains information and updates about the program. For this media project I have paired with the Bridges counselors to gauge their perception of the program. There are two types of counselors: high school guidance counselors and Bridges program counselors. The high school counselors act as coordinators; they nominate students, interview them for a Bridges position, and aid in college preparation. The Bridges counselors work hands-on, living with the students during the summer program and “fulfilling the challenging role of mentor, advisor, supervisor, disciplinarian, and friend” (“Counselors”). I will work with both branches to understand what they teach the students, while also learning what the program has taught them as counselors. It will be important that I attend events such as Saturday College, where I can obtain interviews with both the counselors and students. Here I will see the way the counselors work with the students on schoolwork, applications, and goal-setting. I will also talk to them about the four-week summer program and the new post-graduation program, Crossing the Bridge. After these interactions I will integrate my findings into the Bridges website, Facebook, and blog. This will allow clients, donors, and students to understand the work that goes into the program so that they can all further enjoy what they get out of it. Our hope is that the Bridges team can sustain the media update that we provide after we are finished with the class. I hope to build a strong media platform for the counselors to use, but that also allows outsiders to easily understand the focus and successes of the counselors and program as a whole.

“Counselors”. Bridges to a Brighter Future. 2009. Furman University. 28 Jan. 2012.