To close the morning session, students were treated to a high-energy performance by Brown student organization Daebak, a K-pop dance group, that had students dancing in their seats, clapping and cheering. Energized, students then fanned out across campus to explore, touring classrooms, labs, libraries and greenhouses, and getting a firsthand look at life and learning at Brown.

For Yazan Alothman, a junior at Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School in Providence, and others, the tours proved an opportune time to hear directly from a Brown undergraduate. The sophomores and juniors in the group asked dozens of questions.

“This gives us a chance to see what an Ivy League school is really like — and since Brown is right here in our community, it helps us explore the options and opportunities available to us,” Alothman said. “We get to see what we can do here and what paths might be possible.”

After a hearty lunch at the Sharpe Refectory, students split into smaller groups to attend a class based on one of four subject focuses: entrepreneurship, liberal arts, social impact or STEM. Led by Brown faculty and staff, the lessons spanned everything from language and literature to leadership, law, lab science and life on Earth. 

In an ambulance bay at the Brook Street base for Brown Emergency Medical Services, 10 teens on the STEM track took part in a fast-paced workshop focused on emergency response and patient care careers. Led by Brown EMS Director Amy Sanderson, they rotated through stations, staffed by Brown EMS team members, allowing the high schoolers to explore real-world medical scenarios and the tools professionals use in the field.

At a “reverse show and tell” station, students picked out emergency tools from an ambulance, shared what they already knew and heard from Brown EMS staff about how each item is used in critical situations. At a CPR station, they dropped to yoga mats with manikins and learned the rhythm of hands-only CPR, practicing compressions to the beat of the Bee Gees song, “Stayin’ Alive.” A hemorrhage control station featured life-like manikins and trauma supplies. After watching a demonstration on a plush giraffe, students practiced applying tourniquets and learned how to pack a wound with gauze to stop severe bleeding.

The group found the workshop informative and inspiring, sharing their aspirations to pursue careers in health care with the Brown EMS team. For Favor Imonah, a junior at Classical High School in Providence who aspires to become an OBGYN, the workshop was a valuable experience.

“I didn’t know much about hemorrhaging or how to treat it, so getting to actually practice that was a great experience — I’d love to do it again,” Imonah said. “I’m usually not great at meeting new people, but this was a fun way to connect with others and try out new activities together.”

Supporting student success

Across campus, nearly 30 interactive workshops invited students to step into new roles and disciplines. They planned museum exhibits, explored how archaeologists uncover history, coded their first computer programs, and took on the roles of public speakers, biologists and community leaders. 

In Brown’s Plant Environmental Center, students learned the science behind greenhouse systems and controlled-environment agriculture. At the Annenberg Institute, they stepped into the shoes of sociologists, analyzing salsa songs as cultural texts. A film scoring session at the Brown Arts Institute challenged students to rethink how music shapes emotion, as they experimented with movie soundtracks.

Times2 STEM Academy school counselor Lori Suher said she appreciates that Brown gives students the freedom to explore their interests. 

“It’s important that students walk away from today knowing that college is within reach,” Suher said. “Too often, they think places like Brown or other top schools are out of the question — but they’re not. We’ve had students go on to attend Brown and other incredible programs. If they stay focused, keep their grades up and stay involved, those doors are open to them. Events like College Day are about… introducing them to opportunities they may have never considered and showing them that they belong in those spaces, too.”

But College Day wasn’t just about getting students excited about what’s possible after high school. It was also about supporting local teachers, counselors and administrators and creating new collaborations between the Brown and Providence communities that support student success, Sundaresh said. 

“Bringing counselors and school staff together is incredibly meaningful,” Sundaresh said. “It’s an opportunity to connect with each other, tap into University resources and explore how we can collectively support high school students.”

As part of the day, high school teachers and counselors participated in a mindfulness session led by Brown’s Mindfulness Center and the School of Professional Studies. The workshop introduced mindfulness practices to support well-being and resilience, offering simple techniques beneficial for both educators and their students.

In the afternoon, students and educators reconvened at the Pizzitola Sports Center for a panel featuring Brown student-athletes, who shared their personal journeys. Another session highlighted opportunities for local high schoolers to participate in Brown’s summer enrichment programs.

Jaimi O’Connor, head of the school counseling department at Providence’s Hope High School, said events like College Day inspire and motivate students, ultimately helping them achieve their long-term goals. 

“Events like this are so important for our students to participate in as they help to not only generate that excitement for their future but also keep them motivated in their current academics and extracurricular activities, so that they can eventually reach those future goals,” O’Connor said. “As a school counselor, getting to participate in this day with the students I work with is invaluable. Not only is it time spent with the students, but it also naturally leads to conversation about their next steps. It helps me learn more about them and where they see themselves after high school, outside of the formality of the school building. 

“It is just a really rewarding day all around.”