A Rutgers education represents a myriad of possibilities for an underprivileged, Ecuadorian, 19-year-old young woman. I feel that I would be moving forward in life by fighting back the oppression faced in Newark. It will mean turning my life around from feeling stuck in a troubled environment to one that will motivate my persona. A Rutgers education represents a bright light in an oppressed Newark that will genuinely make me feel accomplished. As a Latina with parents who barely speak the language and with a past of detrimental school systems, I feel that society has not let me become the person I want to be. Attending ECC has showed me the reality of life if you conform to the environment, Rutgers is not in any way conformist. I do not want to follow the pattern of failures represented by some ECC students. I want to be the exception that Rutgers is. I want to be the individual who can captivate my fellow Newarkians who day to day are ascribed to their everyday roles. With a Rutgers education I will prove that you can make it out of a community college and still make it big at a four-year institution. I want to share my knowledge back to one’s who in the future will find themselves in the very same spot. At Rutgers, I want to prove that a prestigious university will shape me into becoming an exceptional student. Rutgers signifies enforcing competition, it is the education I yearn to become successful. I abhor the feeling of not being asked to do better, in other words,
Trying to achieve your dreams and reach your full potential in a town that has little to no guidance for youth, especially African American men, is a daunting task. Too often, young men from my hometown are given limited options for their future. The education system made us feel as if we were only created to work in trade career fields, or sign our lives away for four to six years to the various branches of the United States Military. College was a luxury that many, including myself, thought would never be an option.
I aspire to attend the Clark Atlanta University because it is a symbol for past and future generations of educational and operational excellence. Clark Atlanta University is the hub of African American leadership and educational expansion, and with the constant policing of the community and poaching of black culture in today’s society, it is significant that I achieve an education that represents myself and the world with which I am familiar and intend to change for the better.
On July 6, 1999 a future Clemson Tiger was born, me. As the son of two Clemson alumni, it has been the overall goal of my life to attend the beloved Clemson University and follow my parents’ legacy. Experiencing football and baseball games, caressing Howard’s Rock, and making many everlasting memories has enticed me since I was a young boy. I have considered the university to be my number one choice when picking my future college since the first time I stepped foot on the campus. Knowing that I was initially not accepted into the undergraduate program urges me to prove myself and show the staff of Clemson all that I can bring to better further the reputation of the university. I have worked extremely hard to get to where I am today, but all I can do is get better and I will do whatever it takes to help guarantee my success as a student at Clemson University. I intend to live on campus to help ensure exemplary grades, attend all classes whether attendance is mandatory or optional, and lastly, I have an strong and supportive family of successful alumni to push me to be a prosperous student. My family deeply believes in a Clemson education over another because it has enabled them to be successful in the business world and obtain the high ranking positions in their companies that they possess today. Their success with their Clemson degrees inspire me to obtaining the cherished honor of a Clemson graduate and grow the highly respected reputation of a
Another major predicament that plays a large role in the amount of African Americans that do not receive a higher education is once they get to college, they do not have a typical or enjoyable experience once there. In today’s society, it is hard to imagine that there is still racism and segregation in schools and colleges today but the reality is, it still does very much exist. This is especially true when black students attend predominantly white universities. Even though most colleges promote themselves by talking about how diverse their
One undergrad student who is now a senior, Cassandra Skinner, tells how her choice to attend an HBCU was difficult due to the misconception that these types of schools were “ghetto” or “ratchet”. But after her first semester, and being on the cheerleader squad, she realized that this is where she belonged, with “her
It was only a year ago when I was faced with making a very important decision that would affect me for the rest of my life. It was time for me to choose an institution of higher learning to continue my studies that would eventually lead me to my career. My decision wasn’t simply which university or college to choose, but as a young black student, whether to choose a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or a Predominately White Institution (PWI). This would take me on an insightful journey and I would make my decision after discussing the pros and cons of both institutions and through interactions with students, faculty and staff. Before too long
Gregory, Perry and Rankin also explains that In 1907, African Americans infrequently had different choices for advanced education aside from a general (HBCU) .Furthermore, Gregory, Perry and Rankin states that In 2008, HBCUs are still transcendently African American and flourishing in light of the fact that these organizations are effectively teaching and graduating African-American understudies more so than ever before. According to Gregory, Perry, and Rankin Notwithstanding and now and again ignored, HBCUs are an imperative choice for secondary school African-American understudies look into attending more so today than any other secondary institution. Lastly, Gregory, Perry and Rankin explain how (HBCUs) secondary schools offer advantages minority understudies may some way or another not get if they were to attend a non HBCU; which is why minorities and African American understudies choose to attend HBCUs solely over the option of advantages offered at these HBCUs.
This reading is significant because it shows us the dire need to rethink, revolutionize, and create changes that will give students a color an opportunity to progress to higher education. We know that the only way that poor people of color will find some sort of social remobility is through higher education, but they cannot achieve that if things
The Hispanic/Latino community has been known to be underrepresented on college campuses, both at the community college and four-year university level. Factors such as low-income households, poor or harsh living conditions, under-educated parents, cultural and family commitments, and unfamiliarity with the college process, all serve as unfortunate barriers that keep Hispanic/Latino students from reaching the goal of attaining college degrees. Although these barriers keep many students from succeeding, many others overcome these obstacles and continue on their paths to creating a better future for themselves. They choose to look past the expectations that society has for them and break out of the stereotypical mold. However, Hispanic/Latino students face, yet, another challenge upon successfully making it on to a college campus... the challenge of graduating.
Society has made it so hard for blacks to become successful, but for the great minds of the students at CAU; it’s so easy for them to succeed and not for them to fall into what society calls the “system”. This too, is a reason as why some African Americans feel like they just don’t have to try. The harder they try; they may still get nowhere being limited to so many great opportunities. Although there are no excuses to be made for the African American communities, this reasoning’s will leave some people to think they will never be good enough for society. “Eliminate what’s distracting you and keep it moving in order to succeed” are words that I will always remember Helen Smith Price saying before the closing of Founders Convocation 2017. In life not everyone will support you nor help you get to where you want to be and those are the people you leave behind in order to succeed. As a graduating senior of Clark Atlanta University I will always “Find a Way or Make
Dr. Charleyse Pratt serves as the assistant vice president of multicultural affairs and engagement of Cleveland state university. In this role her primary responsibilities include coordinating Learning Communities Programs and Partnerships at Cleveland State as well as directing initiatives for the Cleveland Transfer Connection. The transfer connection partnership is with Cuyahoga county Community College’s where students are able to begin associate or undergraduate studies to earn a degree and then transfer to Cleveland State to complete the four-year baccalaureate degree. The Cleveland Transfer Connection (CTC) at Tri-C and Cleveland State University is a Learning Communities program unique to Cleveland because it provides services from two institutions and offers two degrees (an Associate’s and a Bachelor’s) in one community of students. Dr Pratt’s driving philosophy is to create opportunities while disarming challenges for students who have a desire to gain an education but now need the preparation to be successful in a classroom. Her approach is student-centered support, leadership training and resource management to better navigate the academic journey toward graduation.
Growing up in Baltimore, I was exposed to a variety of educational experiences. From walking gang infest hallways to taking advance placement classes, each school year was diverse with its own set of challenges. As I look back on educational journey, one experience stayed consistent: the lack of African American men in my classrooms. It was not until high school, that I met the only two African American male STEM educators I would have during my public school career. Seeing these men in the classroom had a profound effect on me and my peers because we idolized them, seeking them for both academic and moral guidance. For some students, these men were the only direct male influence in their lives, and for others, including myself, these men provided
For nearly 138 years, Brenau University has continued to uphold its slogan Extraordinary Lives. When I first stepped foot on Brenau’s campus in 2012, I wouldn’t have fathomed that four years later, this institution would shape me into the successful woman I am today. Prior to attending Brenau, I had always struggled with understanding who I was and where I belonged. Once I became a student at Brenau, I began to join organizations such as Student Activities Board and Student Government Association, and consequently, I have reached a social and academic success peak I never believed I would be able to achieve. If you are a first year college student or are transferring to a different institution, I advise you to take Brenau University into consideration.
In a publication titled ‘Black Women in Academe’, author Yolanda Moses describes how “isolation, invisibility, hostility, indifference, and a lack of understanding of the Black women’s experiences are all too often part of the climate Black women may face on campuses” (Moses, 1989). The detrimental environment surrounding these women frequently results in sullenness, lack of social assertiveness, and belief that they are less competent than male students. Even if time spent at an academic institution is minimal, with this kind of prejudice faced at an early age, any woman- black or otherwise, would suffer the rest of their life. In response to the discrimination faced at universities, some have created programs to aid black students and other minorities; these programs tend to generalize the needs of all its black students and do not fully support black women specifically.
In today 's world where the population, especially of the United States, is growing gloriously diverse, institutions of higher education must also reflect this aspect in their student body. The purpose of colleges and universities is to provide students with the education and experience they need to succeed after graduating as well as expand their thoughts and perspectives. Thus, they must create and maintain a similar environment in which students will live and work in the future. Although diversity has been emphasized as a priority for many schools, socioeconomic diversity is often disregarded. However, socioeconomic diversity plays an important role in developing the perspectives and minds of students. Thus, it is essential for the admission offices, especially of prestigious universities like the University of Pennsylvania, to recruit and admit more economically disadvantaged students as well as for the schools to meet the needs of and maintain those students.