A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
A Better Chance Television Showcases Tomorrow's HBCU Scholars
We highlight remarkable students from across the country competing for the Takesha A. Davis Scholarship, which supports attendance at HBCUs with no GPA requirements. Each scholar shares their personal journey and why they've chosen HBCUs as their educational path forward.
• Lashari Patterson-Davis from Las Vegas is headed to Morgan State University to study nursing with plans to address diversity issues in healthcare
• Aniyah Faith Williams from Jacksonville will attend Florida A&M University for biology with a pre-dentistry focus, following a family legacy of FAMU graduates
• Amaris James from North Carolina will begin at Fayetteville State immediately after graduation to study sociology and find community among peers with shared experiences
• Mayonna LeGronne from Michigan will attend Howard University on a pre-med track with specific goals to combat racial health disparities and reduce maternal mortality rates among Black women
• All scholars articulated thoughtful perspectives on the importance of HBCUs and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in today's political climate
• The scholarship honors Takesha A. Davis, who never had the opportunity to attend college herself
Support these extraordinary students by visiting our social platforms under A Better Chance for Youth, Inc., and ABC Television to vote for your favorite scholars as they compete to make the top 10.
Welcome to a better chance for youth television show with your host, monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity, an opportunity for hope and a future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of A Better Chance for Youth show with your host, monique Robinson.
Speaker 3:Hello, guys, and welcome to A Better Chance Television with your wonderful host myself, ms Dr Monique Robinson, with your wonderful host myself, ms Dr Monique Robinson. Now look, the last two days we have met the most incredible young people from everywhere, as they are competing for this scholarship that, you know, is no GPA requirement, but we do require them to attend one of our nation's HBCUs. Thank you for this shirt, courtesy of Michelle Allen, one of my nation's HBCUs. Thank you for this shirt, courtesy of Michelle Allen, one of my Wilberforce University sisters. And then you know, if you want me to wear something that you may have designed and you mail it to me, I'll put it on the show and share it out and let everybody know that you sent me something. So let's move on.
Speaker 3:Today we have some more amazing young people and when they come on, they're going to tell you about themselves, as they have done before. Right now, we're still at the top 65. And you know how this goes. We go all the way down to top 10. And then we have our final show. And then we have our final show, and even I don't know who won, because you know I'd rather talk to the young people versus read essays and figure out who will be determined the winner this year.
Speaker 3:So give you a little brief history about the scholarship. We have done this. I believe sister Takesha A Davis, who passed away in the year 2000. And because she didn't get the chance or opportunity to go to college, this is our way of sending kids through her vision, because she loved young people. They kind of start growing on me when I fell into education, but it is our passion, this is something our family do every year and it really, really helps the young people. So check us out on all social platforms under A Better Chance for Youth, incorporated ABC Television, any type of platform you can think of, or I'll just drop the link for you later. So let's welcome our first guest today. Hey, ma'am, how are you? I'm good. How are you? I can't complain. Tell us who you are and where you're from.
Speaker 4:My name is Lashari Patterson Davis and I am from Las Vegas, nevada.
Speaker 3:Oh, I need to come where you are so I can strike it rich. How's it going? How's the weather?
Speaker 4:It's actually really hot right now.
Speaker 3:I can imagine, I can truly imagine. I don't really like to go to Vegas in the summer because it's unbearably hot.
Speaker 2:But I do like to go.
Speaker 3:It's always a good time when I go, so what HBCU are you going to attend in the fall?
Speaker 4:I am attending Morgan State University.
Speaker 3:Okay, morgan State, you're going to be a bear. I think that's the mascot. Yes, I had to make sure. Like me, guess awesome sauce. One of my favorite scholars that isn't well, one of my favorite scholars in san antonio attends morgan state. She's a junior this year, so oh, that's nice, she's an athlete. She was part of the inaugural gymnastics team.
Speaker 4:Oh, I did gymnastics for seven years and then I did track during my high school year, so that's really cool.
Speaker 3:Oh, awesome, see, y'all should hook up. Yes.
Speaker 4:So why an HBCU? I would say I wanted to go to HBCU. I didn't really come to that decision until I got to high school because I didn't really know much about college and I wasn't as informed as I should have been. But I went to a college tour my freshman year and it was to Morgan State and Howard and Hampton and Virginia State and schools in that area and it was just a completely different world it was. It was really amazing, like when I went on the tour it was a different scenery and environment that I wasn't used to, because I went to a PWI middle school and elementary school, so I definitely wasn't used to it and I realized like it's just like kind of the, the environment that I wanted to be around and the type of people I wanted to be around and surround myself with, and I really really really liked the fact that I'd be around more people like me, which wasn't something I was used to. So that's that's probably the reason why I wanted to go to an HBCU, wow.
Speaker 3:Well, that's amazing. So what will be your major when you go?
Speaker 4:I'm going to major in nursing on a pre-med track so I can go to med school while I'm a nurse.
Speaker 3:Oh, wow, that's okay. Well, it makes sense to me. Now, while you were preparing for this scholarship award, this whole contest, everybody had to do an essay. Now, when you now I'm going to speak this into existence when you come back and visit us you know, for the final round we don't when you come back for the final round, you're gonna have to read the whole essay. But today I just want to know your viewpoint, like, what did you think about the topic for the essay? Like, what's your views on it?
Speaker 4:I actually really, really like the topic. It wasn't something I had seen um in prior scholarships that I applied to, especially especially ones that are in relation to HBCUs, I feel like, which is kind of odd, because I feel like it's a really, really important topic, especially when you are going to HBCU. Di isn't a topic that's talked about a lot and I really didn't hear about it till my senior year, and I feel like that it's really just a good topic that more people should know about, whether you're African American or not. It is a really good topic and it plays a huge role in a lot of the things in life today, especially healthcare and just society and political aspects of life. Like it's really present everywhere, and I think that having it as a topic and seeing the different point of views of it from various students is really good and really important, and I think that we should do include topics like that more. So, yeah, I really really like the topic.
Speaker 3:Okay, so you like the topic, but what do you? How do you feel? How does it relate to you in terms of going to an HBCU?
Speaker 4:I feel like DI isn't necessarily like because, like I said, I want to major in nursing, which is healthcare, and I feel like DI isn't addressed enough in healthcare and I feel like that's kind of an issue. There's like a lot of things circling around where you can find like a lot of African-Americans don't get the treatment that they deserve just because of their race, and literally anywhere else, whether it be like in a diner or at an airport, like it's prevalent everywhere, and I think that I think I believe it's like something that should be addressed more because it's a really big issue. And I feel like we've gone too far in to where we are now in terms of like society and things for us to not really consider that. And I feel like like inclusion, especially like that's definitely being seen less and less in various places and I think that's a really big issue. And, going into nursing, I want to kind of change that and make it more prevalent and see more in the healthcare world when I go into nursing, because it's not seen that much.
Speaker 3:Okay, well, that is amazing, and thank you for giving us your time today to share your views. Thank you for even making it to the first. You know, top 65. That's big, because Monday, you know we have to narrow it down To the top 50. I know I hate when I have to have to cut it, but it has to be done, has to be done. But you kind of got like a fan base, aren't you in like top 10?
Speaker 4:I'm actually not sure. I hope, so I want to say yes. So I think you got sure I hope, so I want to say yes.
Speaker 3:I think you got a following base. So you know, guys, if you're interested In voting for our scholars, the link is always provided Next to their picture, and some family members have been posting Things too, so you know we got to keep them coming and before you go, tell us again who you are, where you're from and what school you will be attending in the fall.
Speaker 4:My name is Lashari Patterson-Davis, I am from Las Vegas, nevada, and I will be attending Morgan State University as a nursing major.
Speaker 3:Awesome, awesome, and I wish you much success. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Yeah, thank you, thank you. That's why they don't let me choose winners. I just because, if it was up to me, everybody would be right for coming.
Speaker 4:Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3:All right. So, guys, we met our first contestant for today. We have a couple more, but before I bring on the next one, let's take a quick commercial break, because if you are a rising senior, this one is for you.
Speaker 7:Are you interested in attending an historically black college or university? Hello, my name is Robert Mason. I'm president and founder of the Common Black College Application. Our application allows students to apply to over 50 historically black colleges and universities at the same time, for only $20. Hbcu graduates have been some of the most renowned individuals in their respective fields since the late 1800s. In addition to that, our faculty and staff are truly committed to your success and they have a vested interest in seeing that you do well. That, coupled with the academic rigor and the fact that you will establish lifelong relationships, are just some of the many benefits of your attending an historically black college university. So if you're interested in completing the Common Black College App, visit our website at commonblackcollegeappcom to apply now. Thank you, and get educated.
Speaker 3:Welcome back. Welcome back, see, I got a new friend. I told you I was going to have a new friend.
Speaker 8:Yes ma'am.
Speaker 3:So welcome to ABC A Better Chance Television and welcome to the Takesha A Davis Scholarship Contest, thank you. So tell us who you are, where you're from and what school you plan to attend in the fall.
Speaker 6:So my name is Aniyah Faith Williams and I am from Jacksonville, florida, currently in Gainesville, florida, but I will be attending the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where I will major in biology with a focus in pre-dentistry.
Speaker 3:Oh wow, mechanical University, where I will major in biology with a focus in pre-dentistry. Oh wow, so you're gonna be a rat, sir. Yes, ma'am, strike, strike and strike again. Oh my Lord, have mercy. Um, no, bethune. Um, not this time. I'm just playing, I was being messy. One of the judges, one of the judges and the president of our board is a Bethune graduate, but he won't hold it against you. He won't. Okay, well, that's good, I promise so. So why HBCU for you?
Speaker 6:I am in love with the environment so I started going on college tours in ninth grade. I started a little early. I wanted to make sure I knew where I wanted to go and I kind of went through. It's always been an HBCU I was thinking about Howard. I was just so many different HBCUs but FAM always stood out to me. I had my mom go there, my uncle, other cousins, first cousins, family members go there and they always said you're gonna be a Rattler. Even my cheer coach this entire year when I was confused I didn't know what school I wanted to go to she's like you're going to be a Rattler.
Speaker 6:And every time I visited the campus on regular tours, homecoming just different events, they had loved it. It was amazing. They always all HBCUs that I visited they always encouraged black excellence. You could see it, you would hear it, you will believe it. No matter what skin color you are, you will believe in the black excellence. And that is what really stood out to me Just not only being great but feeling great in your skin, even though we're in a world that sometimes that might not be the case or that's not encouraged. But I love how that stood out to me. I knew fam was for me in HBCU period awesome now.
Speaker 3:um, you, as well as our previous guests, um, have a huge following base. Yes, ma'am, because I'm like are you like number three? Or last week, I don't know. I haven't looked at the rankings this week the rankings come out every Monday but I know you've been in top 10 the last two weeks. Yes, ma'am, so I mean what they do send it out to the alumni group or what, because I said who is this.
Speaker 6:We're telling everybody we can, and I guess I inspire a lot of people, which sounds great to me. I definitely really appreciate that.
Speaker 3:Well, I would definitely keep my fingers crossed. Yes, got to be in the top ten, so you told us.
Speaker 6:why now? Because your legacy I guess that's what I'm getting your legacy, and you grew up in the HBCU culture yes, ma'am, so that for sure. And then actually not only just hearing it but experiencing it, definitely like solidified it for me.
Speaker 3:Got it. Okay, that sounds wonderful. Now you mentioned that you cheer, so are you going for athletics and academics or what?
Speaker 6:I am still deciding that 100% academics, but maybe some athletics in there. Some club definitely will be in organizations and clubs for sure. So definitely academics.
Speaker 3:Yes, awesome, awesome. Well, I guess you're going to get on campus and you're going to just strike it out. Yes, ma'am, 100% Love it, love it, love it. Now, while preparing for the scholarship, I gave everybody a task to do an essay. You are not going to read your essay, but I know you keep being in the top 10. So eventually, everybody's going to hear this whole essay. Yes, what are your views on the essay topic?
Speaker 6:So, I am actually very happy to be asked or questioned to write an essay on this topic. There are so many things going on in our world and I hate to bring politics into it, but it's so big right now. We have to understand that HBCUs and DEIs are, at more, not only of a risk, but we need them more than ever now more not only of a risk, but we need them more than ever now. We have to stand together because there are many things that are trying to, like bam, you strike against us in a bad way though. So we have to stand together and I feel like having these communities and HBCUs and having a program like the DEI, like we need to be together, and those two organizations show that for us, and I was very glad to talk about that because it really hits home, especially with me going to an hbcu and me being a part of the dei, as I am an african-american, so definitely I I can't wait to um hear this, this wonderfully crafted essay.
Speaker 3:it seems like everybody is excited about the topic. I try not to keep the topic the same. I try to change it up and make it apply to current events, because as young people, you all got to be abreast of what's going on.
Speaker 6:Yes. I want to give a shout out, definitely.
Speaker 3:You all got to know, yes. So before you go again, please let us know who you are, what school you are going to and where you are from.
Speaker 6:Yes, so my name is Aniyah Faith Williams and I am from Jacksonville, Florida. I will be attending the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with a major in biology and a focus in pre-dentistry.
Speaker 3:Awesome, awesome, thank you for coming. And, guys, you know who knows where we're going next. These young people are from everywhere, literally, and they are, you know, amazing in some of their things. So please reach out to the website, the various sites, and support them, because you know we don't get anything. We get from this Even when you vote. It goes to the scholars, and this one right here and the one before her have a huge base. This number one seat is is a stiff competition, but congratulations and thank you so much.
Speaker 3:Yes, ma'am, I know you got your back because you always in the top 10.
Speaker 5:But hey, absolutely thank you so much, yes each person is an island unto themselves, for the greatest individuals of our time forged their own paths, but UNCF knows that the opposite is true, because when you start to peel away the surface, beyond the borders of the history books, there lies a richness of people before, beside and ahead, brothers and sisters, partners and peers, mentors, who help pave the way.
Speaker 5:And so, for the next generation, bright, brimming and beautiful, we will surround them the most. To surpass the wildest imaginations of our founders, to move mountains, minds and hearts, to solve the world's biggest and smallest problems, to soar higher than regulations permit and pave the way onwards and upwards. Because the truth is, no person is an island, and thank God for that. It's the present that connects the past to the future. Since 1944, uncf has raised over $6 billion and helped more than 500,000 students thrive. Uncf has helped, historically, black colleges and universities produce 80% of black judges, 50% of black doctors and 40% of all black engineers. So together, join UNCF and our 37 HBCU members as we honor the legacy, transform our future and walk as one. Visit uncforg and give today.
Speaker 3:Welcome back, welcome back. So, as we are on this quest for the Takesha A Davis Scholarship Stipend Award, we are talking to some of the most amazing scholars in the world. If you've been following the last couple of days, I have had the chance to sit down and talk to some HBCU-bound scholars that are ready to completely take over the campuses and various places that they will be at. So look, my next guest. This is part of the reason why I can't judge. We're like connected. She is one of our very own scholars on the move kids and it's a little bit deeper than that with her. But, um, let me bring her on, hey, amiris hi, how are you?
Speaker 1:I'm good how are you I.
Speaker 3:It's a little hot in Texas, but other than that I'm used to it a little bit. So, amaris, you know I'm kind of sad because you're no longer one of our ABC scholars. You're like, you know the college part now. Yeah, I mean you won't have to meet with us on Zoom and talk about college decisions anymore. I'm still going to call and follow you, though Like can't get rid of me.
Speaker 1:I know.
Speaker 3:So tell everybody your name, where you're from and what school you determined, decided to go to school you determined decided to go to.
Speaker 1:My name is Amaris James. I'm from Cary, north Carolina, and actually this summer I'm going to Fayetteville State University.
Speaker 3:Wait a minute, not even in the fall, you're going in the summer.
Speaker 1:I'm going the day after I graduate.
Speaker 3:Oh wow, Is mom ready for this?
Speaker 1:No, she's been a little emotional, but every time I pack something she gets a little sad but it's okay.
Speaker 3:Are you going to write Promise? You're going to write her.
Speaker 1:I'm going to call her every day.
Speaker 3:I'm going to hold you to that, don't you do your mom like that?
Speaker 1:I won't every day because I don't know nobody. So I'm like who else am I going to talk to but her, because I don't know nobody?
Speaker 3:So I'm like, who else am I going to talk to you?
Speaker 1:but her, this is recorded, so I know, hopefully I meet people like they see this and they're like oh let me talk to her.
Speaker 3:You will find your tribe. I guarantee you a lot of exciting things happen freshman week and you, you know you'll. You'll see when you get there, but I'm I'm excited for you. And then you get ahead. You know, above many of your classmates, because you're going to be there early yeah so you get to learn the campus before the freshman class come, which is exciting. So congratulations to you. Thank you. Now, what? What are you going to major in when you get there?
Speaker 1:Sociology.
Speaker 3:Oh, that's a good one. Yeah, awesome sauce. Now I have to ask this, even though I know the answer, or I think I do a little bit, but I still have to ask you why HBCU?
Speaker 1:Just because I want community, like I've lived in mostly white neighborhoods my whole life, so being with people who like understand my struggles and experiences will really, I feel like, prepare me for adulthood and having just friends, especially like lifelong friends after high school.
Speaker 3:Okay, that's awesome and very, very true, because, yeah, I've been out of school a little bit and we still talk as if we're still on 1055 Bickett Road. So I get it, that's awesome and amazing. So, while preparing for this scholarship award, everybody was asked to do an essay. Do you remember the essay topic? Yes, uh-oh, what was that?
Speaker 1:I do know the essay topic what was?
Speaker 3:your stance on it, though, because a lot of now you young people in this discussion I don't know like you all are giving me some of the most amazing answers and stances, but what's your stance on?
Speaker 1:it Just that, like going to HBCU and having it be something that builds Black-like professionals, and just that knowing that our current government is basically trying to get rid of stuff like that really just makes me like, like I know that if I go to like when I go to my HBCU, I'll be one of those people who can continue to uphold like black excellence and a black legacy, because I don't want to end up being someone who is uneducated on topics or who just doesn't understand like our current political state. So I feel like being surrounded by other people who are also my age and who are also experienced these changes in government, especially because we just became adults and the world kind of just like not fell apart but but like changed so drastically. So having people who are my age, who understand me, who basically see me, is just, I think, one of the why HBCUs are just like so, so important.
Speaker 3:Wow, I haven't read everybody's essay, be honest, and they don't really let me judge, because they know if it was up to me, I would find a way that everybody gets something, even if it's five dollars. So but I'm really amazed at how engulfed your peers and yourself are in this topic. So you follow this topic. On the news yeah, I can tell news. Yeah, I can tell. I can tell. I can tell because you you spoke like with passion and then you also mentioned something that you know um kind of raises questions in me. You know to ask because you said you went to a predominantly white school so they didn't introduce HBCUs to you and you had to find out on your own or it was offered um, not really so, like, especially in high school.
Speaker 1:I lived somewhere else my freshman year so I didn't really get like the college talk. And then I moved to North Carolina my sophomore year, so there wasn't. There was because it's North Carolina, so they're like, they talked about NC State, duke, unc, charlotte. It was mostly those schools because they're so major, so there wasn't really any like, oh, go to an HBTU. And also there was only maybe like a hundred black kids. Okay, maybe even less. And especially like because I, um, I was in black student union, they didn't even really talk about it then either. It was mostly just like you're around other people who like, look like you. Really, it wasn't really here's where you should go to college so you can continue to know about Black history. It was just here's other Black people.
Speaker 3:Oh, okay. Well, I am excited that you will be exposed to a whole new culture in the day after graduation. Oh Lord, so that's a quick turnaround, Like you gonna go straight from the celebration to campus life.
Speaker 1:I'm kind of. So they're moving, day is on the 14th, so I'm going on the 14th and then I'm coming back so I can write, so I have my graduation party, then I graduate on Sunday, and I don't graduate till maybe like six or five Sunday, and I don't graduate till maybe like six or five. So and then our graduation is only an hour and then I have to leave to go to school at like eight.
Speaker 3:Oh wow. Well, I wish you much success. Um, like I told the audience, I was like we're kind of like connected. You know, maris is one of one of our, you know, scholars, on the move scholars, and it's sad to see her go, but I am proud of her because she has made big strides this year. And even you know not going to tell your business, but even you know, coming on and talking is a is a big thing for you, so I'm proud of you. All right, so thank you, amaris. Before you get out of here, tell us one more time who you are, where you from and what campus you will be going to the day after graduation um.
Speaker 1:So one more time. My name is amaris james. I'm from cary, North Carolina, and this summer I'm going to Fayetteville State University.
Speaker 3:Hey, welcome back. Welcome back. See, I have a new friend. Just that quick. We are going to talk to all 65 of these young people so they can tell us who they are, where they're from and what school they're going to, because it's a lot at stake here. You know we only have four scholarships but you know, hey, depending on you folks and your generosity, we might end up having five, because some of these young people have really shared it out to everybody and then some, but um, tell us who you are and where you from. See, my new friend. This is my new friend right now hello, my name is my honor grown.
Speaker 8:I'm from grandmas, michigan, um in the fall, I will be attending howard university and I'm a pre-med chick and I plan to study health management oh wow, you're going from Michigan to DC.
Speaker 3:Yes, oh lord, that might be, that might be kind of okay, but why an?
Speaker 8:HBCU. So I chose an HBCU. There's a few reasons I chose an HBCU, one of them being is like like my whole like education, I've been like in a predominantly white school and I've kind of always looked for like girls and other students who look like me. So I really want to go to HBCU so I can surround myself with that black culture, because I've always been around white people like my whole life. The reason is my real reason is what I want to do with like my degree and like becoming a doctor, because I want to help fight racial health disparities and I think the best way to do that is to learn from those doctors and educators who went through that. So learning from black doctors, like black professors, will help me to get in that field and change those policies and make sure I'm caring for patients correctly now you gotta talk to me about that.
Speaker 3:You have sparked the interest. Yes, the disparity. Explain that to me.
Speaker 8:So it's like a mistreatment of a patient based off like their race, their socioeconomic status, their gender, their sexual orientation, there's like a lot of or like their religion, and it's like a doctor not giving them the proper care. But sometimes it's not even like malpractice, because I don't know if you know this, but like there's been um misconception in medicine that African Americans have a higher pain tolerance than any women in the race and a lot of doctors still practice it in that way. But it's not male practice because that's what they learned. So it's kind of just like mishaps in there and I like I want to teach people the differences and my main one I'm going into because I want to be an ob-hectare gynecologist is working with maternal um mothers, because there's a higher maternal death rate um in black women amongst any other again, compared to any other race.
Speaker 3:Sorry, I'm studying wow, that that's really good. I mean, I'm telling the audience because we really have some young people on here that are really going to change the world through things that they plan to do once they go to school. So I know I kind of threw a monkey wrench by asking that, because I just wanted our viewers to know like, and listeners to know, what type of young people that we are. You know this contest has this year and so I know you're going to Howard and then after Howard you're definitely going to have to go somewhere else. So have you thought that far yet? Probably so.
Speaker 8:Yes. So after Howard, I do want to apply for the Columbia HBCU Fellowship, which is a free master's degree, and I want to study bioethics or near to medicine, one of those two and then, like during that time, like kind of work on the side and like right now I'm going in to get become a licensed CNA and also during school I hope to become a pharmacist, technician, do Walgreens or like CVS, because they have apprenticeships there, so it's like free, they cover testing, learning and you get paid to learn. So, um, and during like that time, I like gonna work, get my master's and like applying scholarships, applying to medical schools, and I do actually want to go back to Howard Medical School if not Howard Medical School, then Merhary sorry, I hope I pronounced that correct Mary or Morehouse Medical School, because I do want to continue to get that education from black doctors.
Speaker 3:Wow, you got your plan all together. Well, go ahead, ms Mayonna. Wow, I knew you did. I mean it just. You know some young people, they just you can just tell when they have a plan all the way through, and that's good to have, that's really good to have. You could just tell when they have a plan all the way through, and that's good to have, that's really good to have, you know. So in preparation for this scholarship, everybody had to do an essay and the essay topic to me this year a lot of you all really liked it. It was shocking and some of the answers that I've been receiving I'm like oh they really, you know, pay attention to the news, they're abreast to everything. So what's your views on the um, the topic for the essay this year?
Speaker 8:so the topic, like it was about hpcus, excellence of hpcus and HBCUs and DEI, the legacy that they hold, the Racial, ethnic Inclusion. Dei, that is, more specifically, hbcus they like. They mean like a lot to me because they're a space for Black people, made by Black people, for them to learn and excel in an area that they weren't supposed to originally. Like we weren't supposed to be smart with our doctors. That was not supposed to happen and it happens and they created space for us to do that. So I've always wanted an HBCU education. From the moment I realized that they were a thing I was like oh yeah, I'm going to go to HBCU.
Speaker 8:I went to go to Jackson when my siblings went there, but I found other HBCUs. I visited other HBCUs. I visited other HBCUs and, like I knew I wanted to go to one. I didn't want, like, an education from any other place. I even applied to all HBCUs except one school. That was Washington University, and that was because I really thought their campus was just really, really pretty. I knew it wasn't a game. It was like their campus is so pretty I just want to apply, just apply, apply, just apply.
Speaker 8:But I I knew I went to go to HBCU but they're like, their legacy holds so much. There's so many different um I just lost the word for I'm sorry, okay, so many different leaders and professionals who have the HBCU education, like Kamala Harris, our um, our former vice president. She was from Howard, where I'm going, so I want to follow in their path and I want to keep adding to that legacy of HBCU. So I want people to look back and be like oh, she's HBCU educated, like this and you know, like when HBCU was good, like I could go to Michigan the same thing, but like it's just not the same at the same time. So like they leave a very big mark in America and even all the way across the world.
Speaker 3:Okay, Well, I, hey, I wish you much success, Um, when you get to the DMV. Um, I know that you will be engulfed in culture, Um, but also, you know I you find your tribe, because that's really important when you go to NHBCU is that you make those connections and those bonds. I've been out of school for a while and I still talk to several of my classmates, even from freshman year, and you know I'm excited for you. You know, if it was ever one point in my life that I could freeze time with, definitely be when I was at my HBCU.
Speaker 8:Yes, and that's even like those bonds you created. Like, last summer I went to Spelman for a summer program and today we actually marked the year me and these girls just met and we still talk to today and it grieves me, it blows my mind because, like, like, we don't talk every day. We were together for two weeks and somehow we keep having these conversations and this is. It just blows my mind. So I know that, like those relationships I will have after, my issue will be even stronger because I've been with those people for four years definitely, definitely so.
Speaker 3:As we go through this contest, um, I always encourage you all if you see somebody that is going to the same school as you reach out, because it's easier to go through this most important transition in your life. So you won't you know with someone versus feeling nervous, but I hope to see you in the final 10. Keep my fingers crossed for you, because I have enjoyed talking with you today. Now, before we go, tell them one more time where you are, from, what school you are going to in the fall.
Speaker 8:Hello, I'm Mayanna LeGrand and I am from West Michigan, more specifically, grand Rapids, michigan, and I will be attending Howard University in the fall.
