by Marquan Jones

As one chapter closes, a new one begins with UPLIFT

There’s something profoundly bittersweet about watching a program that shaped your entire trajectory come to an end. When I learned that the University of Virginia’s Upward Bound program would no longer operate through the institution, I felt a familiar weight in my chest—the same feeling I had when I aged out of the program in 2019. It’s the sensation of knowing that a chapter is closing, but also the deep gratitude for having lived through pages that changed everything.

As I sit here now, a college graduate from Virginia Military Institute, I can trace nearly every moment of my academic confidence back to those transformative summers and Saturday sessions that began in 2016. Upward Bound didn’t just prepare me for college—it taught me how to be a college student before I ever stepped foot on VMI’s campus. More importantly, it showed a young Black man from Charlottesville that higher education wasn’t just a possibility, but a birthright.

The program’s impact on my family runs deeper than my own experience. My sister attended from 2009 to 2012, and I watched her transformation with the wide-eyed wonder of a younger brother who didn’t yet understand what he was witnessing. Every summer, she would return home with stories that seemed to glow with possibility. Every Saturday, she would eagerly head to UVA’s campus, not because she had to, but because she wanted to. She spoke of friends who felt like family, of administrators who cared about more than just test scores, of a place where she could be authentically herself while discovering who she was becoming.

I knew then that Upward Bound was special. I watched my sister evolve from a high school student into a young woman, then into a college student, and finally into a college graduate—all while I was still in the program, witnessing the full arc of what was possible. She became my proof of concept, my living example that first-generation college students like us could not only survive higher education but thrive in it.

When I entered the program in 2016, I understood why my sister had been so eager to return each summer. The moment I stepped onto UVA’s campus as a high school student, I felt the weight of possibility settle on my shoulders. This wasn’t just a summer program—it was a dress rehearsal for the life I was working toward. We caught public transportation to classes, just like real college students. We walked across the iconic Lawn, our backpacks heavy with textbooks and dreams. We attended core classes and electives, balancing academic rigor with the sweet freedom of choosing our own path.

But perhaps most importantly, we had free time. Real, unstructured free time to discover who we were when no one was watching, when our parents weren’t directing our every move, when we could make choices and face their consequences in a safe, supportive environment. For many of us, it was our first taste of independence, and Upward Bound ensured we could savor it without losing our way.

The relationships forged during those summers and Saturday sessions became the foundation of my support system. Friendships that began over shared struggles with calculus or late-night conversations in the residence halls continue to this day. These weren’t just program friends—they became chosen family, people who understood the unique challenges of being first-generation college students navigating uncharted territory.

The mentor-mentee relationships were equally transformative. Older students who had already made the transition to college shared their wisdom, their mistakes, and their strategies for success. They showed us how to operate not just as students, but as maturing young adults who could handle the freedom and responsibility that college would demand. These relationships provided a roadmap for our futures, drawn by people who looked like us and shared our experiences.

At the heart of it all was the administration, led by Leah Puryear, whose dedication and care created a safe haven for growth. Under her leadership, we felt protected both on and off campus, but never sheltered from the realities we would face. She understood that preparing us for college meant more than academic readiness—it meant developing the character traits that would serve us long after graduation. Through her guidance, we learned accountability, not as a burden but as a form of self-respect. We learned timeliness, not as a rule but as a way of honoring our commitments and the people who believed in us. We learned integrity, not as a concept but as a way of moving through the world with our heads held high.

The program opened doors to experiences that might have otherwise remained closed. We were exposed to Greek organizations, witnessing the beauty of Black excellence in higher education. We cheered at sports games, feeling the energy of collegiate pride. We visited other colleges, expanding our understanding of what was possible and helping us make informed decisions about our futures. Each exposure was a gift, a chance to see ourselves in spaces we had only imagined.

When I arrived at VMI in 2019, I wasn’t just ready for college—I was hungry for it. While my classmates were learning how to navigate campus life, manage their time, and balance academic demands with social opportunities, I was applying lessons I had learned years earlier. I knew how to approach professors during office hours. I knew how to form study groups and maintain the relationships that would sustain me through difficult semesters. Most importantly, I knew that I belonged there, not as an exception or an experiment, but as a young man who had been thoroughly prepared for the moment.

The news that Upward Bound would transition to UPLIFT as a separate entity outside of UVA brought mixed emotions. There’s sadness in knowing that future students won’t experience the program in the same way we did, walking the same paths on the same campus where we found ourselves. But there’s also profound hope in knowing that the mission continues, that the community of care and support that shaped us will continue to shape others.

As I reflect on the rich history of Upward Bound at UVA, I’m overwhelmed by gratitude. This program didn’t just prepare us for college—it prepared us for life. It taught us that being first-generation college students wasn’t a limitation but a strength, that our unique perspectives and experiences were valuable contributions to the academic community. It showed us that success wasn’t just about individual achievement but about lifting others as we climbed.

The program may be ending its chapter at UVA, but its legacy lives on in every student who walked those halls, every graduate who returned to mentor others, every family whose trajectory was forever changed by the opportunity to dream bigger. We are living proof that programs like Upward Bound work, that investment in first-generation students pays dividends that ripple through generations.

As UPLIFT begins its journey as an independent program, it carries with it the DNA of everything that made Upward Bound special—the commitment to excellence, the culture of care, the belief that every student deserves not just a chance but the tools to succeed. The name may be changing, but the mission remains the same: to uplift students, to open doors, and to prove that with the right support, any dream is achievable.

To future UPLIFT students, I want you to know that you’re joining a legacy of excellence that spans decades. You’re becoming part of a family that extends far beyond program years, a network of support that will be there long after you’ve received your diploma. Embrace every moment, every challenge, every opportunity to grow. The person you become during your time in the program will be the person who conquers college and beyond.

And to the administrators, mentors, and staff who will continue this work under the UPLIFT banner, thank you for carrying forward a tradition that changes lives. Thank you for believing in first-generation students, for seeing our potential when others might only see our obstacles, for creating spaces where we can be our authentic selves while reaching for our highest aspirations.

The program may be ending at UVA, but its impact is eternal. In every lecture hall where a former Upward Bound student raises their hand, in every graduation ceremony where a first-generation college student walks across the stage, in every moment when someone who was once told they didn’t belong proves otherwise—the spirit of Upward Bound lives on.

We are the harvest of seeds planted in faith, tended with care, and nurtured with love. We are the proof that programs like this matter, that investment in young people pays dividends that extend far beyond what any spreadsheet can measure. We are Upward Bound, and we are lifted.

The author is Marquan Jones, a 2019 graduate of UVA’s Upward Bound program and a 2024 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. He currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.