6 Takeaways: College Edition
Deciding what you will do post high school graduation is a decision many face. Some chose the military or college while others go straight into the work force. I chose to attend an Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Johnson C. Smith University. I earned my Bachelors degree in Business management and graduated with honors. Attending an HBCU is an experience like no other. I mean that whole heartily. When you look at the culture at an HBCU you’ll find pride, in a humble way. Folks are proud to be an African American scholar. We are accomplishing the very thing our ancestors worked, fought and died for. You will find unity among one another. And you will be inspired and uplifted by our own people. There is nothing in this world that is equivalent to the four years I spent at my HBCU. In honor of JCSU’s homecoming weekend I figured it’s only right to share some college takeaways. Chose a college or university that best suites your interests.
Between Sophomore and Junior year in high school you should determine if you’re going to attend college after graduation. If so, create a list schools you are interested. Consider cost of tuition, additional fees and how you will pay for it. You’ll also want to consider the school’s acceptance requirements, how far you want to be from home and confirm the school offers your major. There are all types of colleges and universities around the United States. Do your research to find out which one(s) best suites your desires. Once you’ve narrowed down your list to 3-4 schools apply and schedule a campus tour. For me, it was never a question of if I should go instead it was deciding where to go and what to study. My list included Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), North Carolina A & T and Hampton University. All three schools were HBCU’s however they were all very different. Both JCSU and Hampton are small HBCU’s however one was close to home while the other was out of state. North Carolina A&T was a much larger school than the other two. I actually didn’t end up touring North Carolina A&T because it was important to me that my Professors knew me by name, not a number. My visit to Hampton was okay, nothing memorable. When I took a family trip to Charlotte, NC with my Dad and younger brother I knew rather quickly Smith was where I wanted to be. There we met the cheerleading advisor and the captain of the team who gave us a personal tour. As we walked around the campus it felt like home. The people were kind and treated us like family they hadn’t seen in a long time. The culture was inviting and welcoming. The campus was beautiful. And I appreciated how small it was. Shoutout to all my fellow SMITHITES!
2. Understand your options for paying for school.
As you probably know, college can be extremely expensive. You have to pay for books, room and board, meal plans and more. Some may be fortunate to receive a full ride scholarship however that was not my case. I received a few scholarships and awarded a few book vouchers but it wasn’t enough. Over the course of 4 years I accumulated over $40,000 in student loans, both federal and private loans. Once I graduated I grew to understand how different private loans were from federal loans. Private loans are typically stricter regarding its repayment plans and will have higher interest rates. I found that my federal loans were more flexible.. They offered income based payment options and loan consolidation which was absolutely helpful. Regardless of the type of loan you receive be sure to only borrow what you need! If you receive a refund check think about using those funds to pay off your student loans early. Know, the longer you prolong paying back your student loans the more you’ll have to pay due to interest rates. In the meantime, search for additional ways to pay for your tuition. When you practice advocating for yourself you will likely come across available resources. I was not initially awarded work-study yet I eventually received work-study for two years. Connect with your financial aid officer. See if there are any unclaimed scholarships, grants or work-study jobs available. If not, join a waitlist and ask them to call you directly if something becomes available. Once they contact you, respond swiftly and promptly. Don’t doubt this step. There are various reasons funds go unclaimed. Adding your name to the list increases your chances to receive more money. Whether you have a refund check, work-study, or an off campus job create a plan to pay off your student debt early. 3. Use your interests to help select a major and to determine what classes to take.
Don’t overthink your major. I always thought this decision is rather overwhelming for an 18/19 year old. Why were we expected to know what we would want to do for the rest of our lives at such a young age? Teenagers change, develop and mature so much as they become adults. Shoot, adults are still evolving. I digress. If you are absolutely clueless on what to major in, you can start undecided. There are certain classes that your school may require first year students to take regardless of your major. Take those courses and get them out of the way. If you have a major, great. Follow the path your department laid out. Either route you chose be aware when selecting your courses. Make sure you are meeting your required classes to graduate on time. I know schools require you to take a certain amount of electives. I’d advise you to take electives that interest you, both related and unrelated to your major. I didn’t quite grasp this concept until my junior and senior year in college. Though I was a Business Management major, I really enjoyed marketing. I had to take at least one marketing class as a requirement but I would’ve benefited from an additional class. I also knew I like to dance, to write and communicate. My school offered all of these courses in various ways. Taking electives that align with your interest can add value to your life. You’re going to college to learn, so learn about the many things you care for. And instead of only selecting classes that are almost a guaranteed “A” pick a class that will challenge and grow you. This could eventually help you find various ways to build a stream of income using the very things you’ve learned. 
4. Get active in campus life.
Becoming active on campus is a great way to feel connected. You will easily meet like-minded people organically. Whether it’s joining a team or running for position in student government is all up to you. I joined the cheerleading squad -Luv-a-bulls- my freshman year and continued cheering until I graduated. There I met ladies from all around the US. Together served as ambassadors of our university. We were ready and willing to serve our community when called upon. We even had the opportunity to cheer in our former first lady, Michelle Obama for our CIAA basketball tournament. Being apart of a team sharpens your teamwork skills, communication and discipline. The discipline I gained from being a Luv-a-bull has out lived my time at JCSU. It’s become a way of life. Whatever you chose, plug in! Living on campus is also a great way to stay in the midst of campus life. Most universities have activities going on year round. These activities were designed with you in mind. You can learn and explore more when you attend these events. Plus, you never know who you will run into. Sometimes you can meet someone quite interesting working in a field you desire to go into. Introduce yourself and ask for their contact information. They could serve as a future resource. If you’re attending an HBCU like I did homecoming season was always enjoyable. Each evening during homecoming week presented a new activity to attend; comedy show, coronation, concert and more. These are once in a lifetime moments to create memories that will stay with you forever. 
5. Being in college doesn’t stop home life from happening, how will you handle it?
During your college years you will be tested, especially those who go away for school. It may be a test of morals that’s been instilled since you were little. Or maybe a test of your faith - what you believe and why. It could also be a test of certain relationships in your life. Regardless of the test, guard your heart. Stand firm on what you know is true and allow the tests to develop you into your best self. When I started college my perseverance was tested. I’d recently loss my mother. And her death hit me very hard, in ways I couldn’t quite articulate at the time. I had hopes that going away to college would allow me time to process her death, make her proud and to be a good role model for my younger brother. Unfortunately, life didn’t stop there. A year after my mother’s passing, my grandfather passed followed by my grandmother two years after that. And then my father remarried. These were major life changes happening all so quickly. I felt broken, weak and numb yet I couldn’t let that deter me. I did the best I could to stay focus on my school work, grades and exams. Being a cheerleader helped because I knew I couldn’t let my grades fall or I’d be put on academic probation. And not cheering was not an option. Though I was able to persevere, I wasn’t being honest with what I was struggling with internally. Staying busy didn’t make the pain go away. It actually hurt worse that I didn’t find a healthy outlet. As I reflect on this I wish I spent more time addressing what I needed in order to really become my best self. I needed help processing and time to heal. I know there are many people who deal with adversities particularly in college. What matters is how you handle these difficult times. Will you rise up to the occasion? I used my college life as an escape to not face my reality at home. My advise to you is to utilize your time away from home to become stronger and healthier than you’ve ever been. Finds ways to nurture your whole self. Connect with like-minded people so you can remain grounded. Identify someone you trust, particularly someone older. Be honest about what you are struggling with and ask for guidance. Even being in the practice of talking about problems can help.6. Finish writing this chapter in your own story.
As you journey through college take the time to reflect on who you were when you started, where you are now and where you hope to be. Hopefully this reflection will show you how determined you were. How you’re wiser than you thought. Even how you’re stronger than you’ve ever been. You’ve faced challenges head on. Giving it your all. Don’t hold it against yourself wherever you’ve failed. Failure is life’s greatest teacher. Embrace it. Pick up where you left off and continue until you’ve reached the finish line. Obtain that degree so you can start your career. Know that your college years are training grounds for the real world. You’re becoming more independent and handling your responsibilities like a boss. You’ve dealt with unforeseen obstacles and ready for whatever’s next. If you can handle navigating these waters, you’ll be ready to face whatever the real world throws at you. Whatever you do, continue writing your story. If you aren’t happy with the direction you are going in, you can redirect yourself at any point. Be careful not to give someone else the authority to write it for you. It’ll never amount to what you are worth. Finish this chapter even with its adversity and glory. Be grateful for your support system. Be gracious with yourself. And continue looking forward, for the best is yet to come.
