INTRO | May 2020

Introductions and Perspective...

We are kicking off the blog in May to provide introductions of the planning team (Dr. K, Crystal, and Tyler) and their perspective on the college experience, more specifically in relations to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Though Dr. K did not graduate from a HBCU, her love /support for them and their students are unwavering. As an administrator at a HBCU, Dr. K recognized the foundation and the lands on which HBCUs were founded. To this end, it is her passion and purpose to instill self-confidence and self-advocacy among all students that walk these campus. Dr. K's blog post is an ode to the rich history and prominent future of HBCU students/graduates through the lyrics of the song entitled "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" performed by Nina Simone.

As the product of two HBCU graduates the importance of Black colleges and universities have been instilled in Crystal since a young age. An HBCU with one of the best journalism programs just so happened to be in her hometown. So naturally as a high school senior desperately wanting to leave her city she had no desire to go. Crystal's blog post outlines her decision to attend an HBCU as a high school senior.

Tyler knows first hand that the first week of college for any freshman is filled with many emotions. For one thing it is the first time we are free to be who we want and do what we want, but there is the looming pendulum of adulthood swaying over our head and it can cause a lot of anxiety. Tyler's blog post discusses how he navigated freshman year as a college student and the dos and don'ts. Tyler discusses his ups and downs, the pretty and not so pretty moments to show that in the beginning everyone will make mistakes and you shouldn't define yourself from them.