Victoria Pendleton

Becoming a Veterinarian has always been a dream of mine ever since I can remember. However, until Upward Bound Math Science (UBMS) came along, I was afraid that I would never be able to fulfill that dream. As the eldest of three children raised by a single mother, college seemed like a fairytale.

The individual project that UBMS students do each year was one of the greatest experiences. With the individual project, students are placed with a mentor to do research on a topic of their choice and to present their findings at the end of six weeks to a panel of judges. It is thanks to this experience that I found a work-study job on campus doing research on the effects of ethanol consumption on mice and rats.

Thanks to Upward Bound, I am the first person in my family to go to college. They helped me through the application process of applying and were there for me every step of the way. I am now a sophomore at the University of Maine obtaining my BS in Pre-Veterinary science with a minor in Equine Studies. For me, Upward Bound was like a second family, and I can’t thank them enough for all that they have done for me.