Loud music and cheers could be heard from the South Houston Intermediate School’s gym as seventh graders danced off their pre-exam jitters at the school’s recent TAKS and GEAR UP pep rally.

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a six-year grant that is designed to encourage students to pursue education after the K-12 experience. It is aimed at not only ensuring high school graduation, but enrollment in college. This year, the program was launched at Jackson, Queens, South Houston, Miller, San Jacinto, Southmore, Park View and Beverly Hills intermediate schools.

The seventh graders received a special presentation at the pep rally from All N One, a non-profit organization at the University of Houston that provides schools with educational and enrichment programs.

“We try our best in providing students with programs they can connect with,” said the GEAR UP coordinator for South Houston and Miller intermediate schools Neitzy Retta. “It’s important to know what the students’ interests and backgrounds are. The All N One team sends out the message about the importance of TAKS in a cool, hip way in which the students can relate to and feel motivated to participate.”

Retta said it’s important for all students to understand the significance of being prepared for the TAKS exam.

“As a seventh grader, it is one of their stepping stones they have to accomplish to prepare them for their long term goal,” she said. “Their long term goal is going to college. They have to understand the choices they make today will affect them tomorrow.”

Among some of the activities the All N One team brought to the pep rally were student and teacher dance competitions, a physical education exercise and a skit.

The students were also quizzed on questions similar to those on the TAKS exam in a Fear Factor competition.

Retta said the focus of the pep rally was to help the students gain confidence and motivation for the TAKS exam.

“This program is designed to alleviate the pressures of the intense preparation process,” she said. “Some statistics show many students miss questions on the test due to being uptight and emotionally and mentally strained. The TAKS pep rally helps overcome their fears, gain a high level of confidence and to ‘GEAR UP for TAKS.’”