An Experience Waiting to Happen

Black Entertainment Television (BET) came to Alabama State and set up booths where you were able win prizes and fill it out college applications. Photo credit: Shari Wilson

Actually seeing what the college life is all about will definitely change your mind about whether or not you want to attend college. One reason you should attend a college is that while touring Clark Atlanta University’s campus, we saw the fraternities practicing their steps and the sororities showing their moves.I do not know why the Omegas ,a  fraternity on campus, spray paint their shoes gold, but they all do. Maybe it is so you can identify who they are when you see them. They had no real reason to dance, so when I asked what the occasion was, they all said that they have to their fraternities and sororities.

Here are the Omegas outside of the cafeteria showing us a little love Photo credit: Shari Wilson

To participate in the step shows students must pledge. However, to take part in a step is a way to pledge. Pledging is a big part of the college life because the sororities and fraternities are the ones who plan a lot of the school events. Pledging is proving to everyone else in the fraternities or sororities that you are willing to be in their sisterhood or brotherhood for life. Personally, I would love to pledge. It’s very comforting to know that even after college I can still call my “sisters” if I ever need anything. To me, the difference between friends in high school and friends in college is that high school friends promise to keep in touch, but never do. However, in college everyone is living on campus with each other, thus spending much more time together. So you start to realize that as you become older you have a greater understanding of the value of friendship and you see that most of your “bestfriend FOREVER” from high school friends are nowhere around.

My next stop was Spelman College. It was an eye opener to see people of color doing rising above some negative stereotypes of African Americans. Spleman  is an all-girls school, meaning only girls live on campus. If I had to make the choice of choosing which school I would attend. I would rather go to a co-ed school because it doesn’t seem like you get the full effect of college by attending an all girls school. However, the boys from Morehouse University take classes there.The students from Spelman and Morehouse have no reason to leave their dorm building unless they’re going to the cafeteria. It all depends on what their major is because your housed in the same building as all of your classes, which can be very convenient at times.

Clark University, Spelman, and Morehouse are literally right across the street from each other. When homecoming week comes around, they all celebrate together. They throw parties and plan the week’s events together.

After seeing Spelman, Clark, and Morehouse, we drove to Alabama, where we toured Alabama State University. Though we didn’t get to stay there for long, I got some wonderful information on their great business program. It seemed like everyone that took the business class became successful and is on their way on starting their own business with a strong foundation. Something that was interesting was that our tour guide encouraged us to watch Alabama State University’s football game the night before. I asked why and he would not tell us. So I did not think much of it. I took it upon myself to watch the game that night. Lucky I did because the next day, we actually got to go into the weight lifting room where all the football players were working out.

Last, but definitely a whole lot of fun, was Tuskegee University. (picture) While I was there, they were celebrating their homecoming week, so there were people everywhere we turned dressed up in their school colors and chanting the school chants. They were so welcoming; many hugged us, allowing us to feel welcomed instead of feeling like the outcast.

I came to the conclusion that I would want to go to Tuskegee University. Even though it’s in the middle of nowhere, the people are very welcoming and their business major appears to be a wonderful success. Even thought I was only there for two days, I started to make connections with some of the students and the school itself. I was surprises how fast I started to adjust. At Tuskegee I was not nervous or scared, like I was at the other schools,  to approach someone and start a conversation. That’s how comfortable I felt. I still keep in contact with some of the people I met out there. Matter of fact two of them are coming down here to California for their Christmas break and we’re planning on hanging out. If i connected that fast then I know getting comfortable will not be a problem while I am out of state in college.