We present these "testimonials" so that the potential participants and their parents can learn how the UBMS experience affected others.
From Students
From 2017 Participants
What was the “high point” of the program?
- The Sundays
- The day-to-day interactions with the people here
- Zoo
- My friends and my inside jokes
- The zoo trip, everything was fun
- Being with everyone doing odd things; bus and car rides; meals
- Astronomy class
- All the fun people and the trips
- How helpful it is and how meeting more people can change you
- Weekends: Saturdays are fun but Sundays are when I made the most memories
- I really enjoyed science Olympiad and WOF
- Creating strong friendships and inside jokes
- Spending time with everyone
- The walking thing; it showed I wasn't alone
- I will appreciate the time and it was most fun, most memorable and most thankful
- The people
- Open floors night and bacteria
- Worlds of fun
- Privilege walk
- New Theatre; student leadership conference; BK Taylor
- Worlds of fun was very amazing
- Astronomy and how amazing the teachers were
- My friends, most definitely
- Having fun with everyone, playing games etc.
- The surprise trips
What things did you learn this summer (not necessarily in the classroom) that you feel will be valuable?
- Being more social and who I really am
- Time management and a better understanding on college
- To be happy and be myself
- Trusting and meeting new people
- How to communicate with people
- You don't know what everyone is going through, so don't be quick to judge
- How to communicate with other people
- Social skills and integrity
- More ways to solve a problem; challenge yourself more; respect others more
- That everyone is different and alike from me
- Time management
- Social skills
- ACT prep; friendship; college prep; how to save responsibility; I’m still learning
- That I can trust
- I met new people, socialize, and also both good and bad English
- Being out of my box, and socialize with others
- Financial aid, matrices, ACT prep, spherical geometry, astronomy
- Not to be as sensitive
- Being more confident and standing up for myself and others. Also, the importance of confidentiality
- A bunch of stuff
- How I can take more chances without being afraid
- The ACT prep will most definitely help me
- How relationships work; how to use a calculator; matrices; how to understand my feelings
- I learned more about what I want to be as a person and how I can make that happen
- That you need to realize that different people learn in different ways
From Truman State University, Emily wrote in a Facebook message
UBMS was an amazing experience for me. It really prepared me for what college was going to be like. The classes were challenging, yet fun. But, the best part is you meet lifelong friends. I still talk to my friends from UBMS even though we live in different states.
From Southwestern College (Kansas), Cordario wrote in a Facebook message
Opportunities sometimes come only once in your life, this being said. I think UBMS is an opportunity of a lifetime. It is 6 weeks full of fun, intellectual learning, and personal growth. This is a time I will never forget, and that I am thankful for the opportunity to take part in it.
From Buena Vista University, Sarah wrote in a Facebook message
UBMS made such a positive impact on my life, and I wish the best to everyone who applies. I've always said the greatest part about the program is the comfortable learning atmosphere. Unlike high school where I remember it not being socially acceptable to apply yourself in class, but at UBMS you're surrounded by other people who want to learn. It allows you to open up with people and really be yourself without fear of alienation. I made so many amazing friends at UBMS, and we still keep in touch and visit each other occasionally. UBMS marked a huge turning point in my life, and it also made adjusting to college life feel very natural.
From Northwest Missouri State University, Garrett wrote
When I arrived at the university for the beginning of UBMS I was still a little nervous and scared. I had never left home for more than a week, and this was going to be six. I was glad my parents left me though, because it was the most memorable weeks of my life. I made friends from across Missouri and I had a blast while doing it. I gained so much knowledge that I would have never learned at my small town school. Geology, Spherical Geometry, Meteorology and many other amazing classes. I also learned how to trust myself and others. My confidence soared and I left being prepared to do greater things in my life.
My first week at UBMS I wanted to go home. After that week, I never wanted to leave. When the time finally came to return home I didn't want to. It was so hard to leave behind all my friends and peers. I had thought that I would never see them or contact them again, but thankfully with Facebook and messengers I kept in contact. Many of them I still contact and keep in touch. I'll always remember my six weeks and the difference it made in my life. I'm telling you now, to not let this opportunity pass you up. If it does, you'll be missing out on an experience that will change your life for the better.
From Parents
- I wanted my daughter to take on more responsibility and broaden her knowledge of education. She did this more than I thought could happen. She is so gung-ho about everything now.
- My daughter is more outgoing, speaks up for herself and now has a high self-esteem. She saw the "real world" and she loved it. I think she now appreciates the little things in life. She has more of an appreciation of her family. Having my daughter gone for so long helped me realize how grown-up she is getting. The UBMS experience has helped me be a better parent.
- Our son has become more open with us and is more at ease around strangers since attending UBMS. The Orientation session answered lots of questions and made us feel more comfortable when we heard the rules and saw where they were to stay.
- Our son gained self-confidence in every aspect of life, school, friends, and work because of his UBMS attendance. He has a very positive outlook for his future. He has set his goals and I believe he will succeed. I believe that this program has made us closer; he appreciates what I do for him more.
- My son has gotten out of his "observer's seat" and onto the "field of life" since attending UBMS.
- UBMS helped my son to be much more confident and sociable with others. He seems to be more able to overlook slights from other students at school who belittle his accomplishments. He now has friends from UBMS who like him for who he is and not what some thought he should be. He really matured over the summer. It is great to see him happy about himself, to be accepted by others. He is still in contact with many of his UBMS friends.
- Our daughter doesn't put off her homework until the last minute, but instead will eagerly do it each night. Since attending the UBMS program, we have a calmer daughter with a more positive attitude toward school. She is now very open with us about her friends who are beginning to experiment and use drugs and alcohol. She chooses to stay away from these people and associated events. Thank You!
- My son loved the exposure to different types of math and science. He learned to appreciate the "differences" in others and to be more comfortable with his own "differences".
- My daughter is more open at her high school since attending UBMS. She has more acceptance of others. My daughter's UBMS participation made her very happy and that is worth a million to a parent to see their child experience something so wholesome and good. She has grown academically and personally. It was a relief for us to know she was in a safe place. This is a great program for kids to learn and enjoy learning. Thank you for the good years.
- We got to know our son better and on a different level because of what the UBMS program and other participants brought out in him.
- My daughter became more at ease at UBMS being in a setting with people who had similar interests. She returned home with a greater self-confidence in public places and greater communication skills. Our daughter has better organization skills. She has made some wonderful friends.
- The UBMS experience far surpassed my expectations for my daughter. She is now more responsible and more determined about school, college, and life. Her self-esteem has improved. She is still talking about the experience and is looking forward to next year. It is hard to put into words, but her whole outlook on life is better. This is a big stepping-stone toward my daughter realizing her goals and potential in life. This gives me great peace of mind. The benefits of my daughter's UBMS participation have been some of the most positive events of my daughter's life. She will benefit from it for the rest of her life. Thank you.
- My son has learned maturity, tolerance, and knowledge since his UBMS summer. He doesn't make racial comments when "joking around" as he did before. This change acknowledges growth in all areas of his life. He is more willing to do household chores without trying to argue or complain. He now realizes that money doesn't grow on trees. Our son being around other kids with the same abilities or better stimulates his desire to achieve even more. This made us realize our son is almost grown up and it is time to plan for his biggest transition in life.
- The time my son spent at UBMS gave him a sense of getting rid of some anxieties from himself and his parents. He learned to budget time and money, and made friends. He came back home a bit more mature, which helps me to learn to let him grow up. Our son seems to study harder and his athletic abilities were somewhat stronger since attending UBMS.
