THE HBCU EXPERIENCE

I lived with my dad and my stepmom during my freshman year in high school until I graduated. My stepmom was a professor of Anatomy and Physiology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem North Carolina. When it was time to go off to college, I knew I didn't want to go to Wake, even though it would have been free, because I wanted to get away from them. My first choice was Bauder Fashion Institute in Atlanta Georgia in which I had a full scholarship. I was told by my father that boys don't do that. Visions of Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren plagued my mind trying to rationalize his thought process.

I was able to digress and focus on the next school my best friend and I wanted to attend together, North Carolina Central University. My stepmom agreed to take us both to what was supposed to be an academic open house on campus. We drove from Winston-Salem to Durham with bated breath, excited to see what was in our near future. When we arrived, we were corralled into a gym where the cheerleaders cheered, the band performed, the fraternities and sororities put on a mini-step show. My bestie and I were in heaven. There were only a few professors that were available. There were no presentations about scholastics. The concentration of educational opportunities was minimal. My stepmom wasn't happy. She looked at us both and guaranteed us that neither of us would be in attendance. We both ended up at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. My bestie graduated. I didn't.

Fast forward through 20 years of turmoil, bad choices, and drug addiction, I made the decision to move to DC. With a rocky start, I was able to kick my addiction and completely turn my life around. I made the decision to finish my degree and applied to The University of the District of Columbia, one of the oldest HCBCU's in the country. I was determined. The majority of my credits transferred, and the school accepted me with open arms. The professors were tough but accommodating. They were challenging but nurturing. I felt at home.

This brings me to my current state. I'll be graduating in May of this year, and I currently have a 4.0 GPA. I joined the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge team, a quiz bowl team, which advanced from the regionals to the nationals in Los Angeles. HBCU's from all over the country compete for money for their school and other prizes. The sheer love that we have given and received has been unmatched. The president of our school and his wife came out to watch us play. I was able to form a bond with them, not to mention my amazing teammates and coach. There is this indescribable feeling of comradery and understanding that is unspoken yet bountiful. My experience at UDC and my experience here with HBCU's from all over the country has given me a profound new respect for HBCU's and their constituents. I am full of love. I am full of hope for the future, and I am grateful to have had these HBCU experiences. It may very well change the trajectory of the rest of my life.