preview

A Student At Hampton University

Better Essays

I wish I could say it still surprises me when I mentioned to people that I attended an HBCU (Historically Black College/University), some of them have no idea they exist. Often, it turns into a conversation starter, which usually evolves into a meaningful educational moment about the history of HBCU’s. However, occasionally I find myself becoming frustrated when ask the question “why” in a way that questions the validity and or need for HBCU’s in 2016. As a student at Hampton University I did not fully realize the impact it would have on me, but looking back, it is clear to me that those experiences have shaped who I’ve grown into today, and strongly influence to my desire to pursue a career in environmental science education.

My first class in Marine and Environmental Science department at Hampton University turned out be different than I expected. Instead of a large lecture hall full of students, I entered a small classroom with approximately 15 students. It was a pleasant surprise to see the small group of students, who shared a cultural resemblance and has similar interests. Up until then, typically when I told someone I wanted to be a marine scientist, the response was “oh that nice” or “so you want to play with fish?” So being at Hampton with likeminded students that I could relate to made the transition form high school to college easier than I anticipated. There was a feeling of communities that allowed me to feel free to be myself.

In contrast, my first day

Get Access