For twenty years, Bridges to a Brighter Future’s mission has been to transform the lives of their students. Every year, twenty-five freshmen are chosen to partake in the four-week summer program at Furman University. Kristen Marakoff, a new English teacher at Travelers Rest, was a counselor in the program during her time at Furman. She said that Bridges is open “to students who don’t have those opportunities that are really needed to help kids bridge that gap between high school and college.”

High school freshmen who are accepted attend the four-week program and are assigned upperclassmen mentors that act as role models to kids who lack the attention at home. During camp, students take classes that prepare them for the new school year with one-on-one learning with teachers from around Greenville County. The program helps kids find their potential with the College-Prep class and shows them the steps they need to make their dreams a reality. During the school year, every student is open to come to Saturday College where they receive help in subjects from teachers and college students who work and study in those fields.

Opportunities are also set up for kids to become more involved in the community with leadership opportunities and community service. College tours are planned in the fall and spring to allow students to get an idea of the college they’re looking for. The program also helps the students find schools with the right resources and programs for them to be successful in college. Since the program is a non-profit organization, it offers all of these resources to the kids for free since the majority come from low-income households.

This program is more than a summer program that prepares kids for the college though. Every student in Bridges has a story to tell and not one is the same. Lucas Arledge, a senior at Travelers Rest and part of the Sigma class, says, “My freshman year, I didn’t have a good mind set about it but after I became involved and actually opened myself up to the program, I began to enjoy it.” After three years he went from being hidden away to outgoing, and received the personal growth award his final year. There are other stories like Lucas’ of kids coming from tough situations. Pam Davis, the director of Bridges, says that students they work with “have such vast potential and perseverance. It is an honor to work with them, as they positively impact our lives as much as this impacts theirs.”

Bridges continues to change the lives of students whose potential out-distances their circumstances and changes the world one mind at a time. To learn more about the program go to the Bridges to a Brighter Future website.