From Chicago To Morehouse With A Gap Year Plan

A deposit deadline gets missed, plans fall apart, and the “perfect” timeline disappears. That moment could have ended Nasir Mohammed’s Morehouse dream, but it becomes the start of something better: a gap year built on accountability, discipline, and a clear decision to keep moving when the finish line shifts.

We talk with Nasir, a Chicago-area student heading to Morehouse College, about why choosing an HBCU matters to him as a young Black person looking for connection, culture, and an education that tells the truth about Black history. He shares what it’s like navigating the college search largely on your own, why Morehouse felt like love at first sight, and how his nontraditional school experience shaped his mindset around empowerment and purpose.

Nasir also reads his scholarship essay and breaks down the lesson behind it: setbacks can be preparation if you take responsibility and stay intentional. He explains how he used the delay to apply for scholarships, deepen community service, join leadership programs, and even train as a walk-on baseball athlete. We also get practical about college readiness, networking, and why alumni connections can make a new city and a new campus feel possible from day one.

If you believe in HBCU scholarships, college access, and Black student success, this story will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone college-bound, and leave a review so more people find these scholars and support their journeys.

Transcript

Opening And Show Welcome

SPEAKER_07 0:00

Yeah, yeah. Step up. Lady Big James on the screen again from the block to the band to the big stage, playing with the talk wins, talk fly, talk, Mr. Cast.

SPEAKER_06 0:11

Welcome to a better chance. TV. Speaking to the two stage.

San Antonio Scholar Send Off Recap

Monique Robinson 2:07

Monique Robinson. I am speechless. If you are in the San Antonio area, yesterday we had a fabulous, a fabulous time. Um celebrating our scholars in the area who are HBCU bound in the fall. The parents, the alum, showed up and showed out. Now I have to say this. Showed up and showed out for their Southern University bound scholar, as well as our P V you know students also came and the alum came. They had some people uh who were in town for the um for something else, but they came by to send off and you know gave some good words. And shout out to our speaker who is a recent graduate of PV. And it just was it was a wonderful. So thank you anybody who took part, parents, family, alumni. Um special thanks to the Urban League and Cassano Medical Research for being some huge, huge sponsors. And um I I still am a little sore from all the walk-in. And you know, I have to publicly say the parents won this year's competition. So, you know, it's okay. You know, I'm over it, but more importantly, our scholars are prepared to go to our nation's historically black colleges and universities with some good resources and some good connections. So we're back, and we have our next contestant on our Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Stipends.

Scholarship Story And How To Give

Monique Robinson 4:05

Now, yes, this is a long process, but let me give you a backstory. Those who don't know, Takeha A. Davis is my elder sister who uh passed. And in her honor, we do the scholarship because we want to allow young people to an opportunity that she didn't get. My sister didn't get to go to school. However, she did have a huge heart for kids, and we're trying to make it happen as our family. Now, if you do want to sow a seed to that scholarship foundation or to a better chance for you futures incorporated, we are on Givify. And once you log into Givify, you find our organization organization, and then it is right here. You can scan this QR code right here, and then let us know where you wanted to go. Now, after this commercial break, I will bring on our guest for today. He's really cool. I talked to him offline, and um very interesting story already. So, right after this, you will meet our guests.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

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Meet Nasir And Morehouse Plans

Monique Robinson 6:14

I told you when I came back, I was gonna have a really cool uh young person with me. So welcome to the show. How are you doing today? Tell us who you are and where you will be attending in the fall.

SPEAKER_04 6:25

Uh hi, my name is Nasir Mohammed. I am from um, I was from Chicago, Illinois, but I live um around the uh suburban area of Illinois and will be attending Morehouse um this upcoming fall. Hopefully, um God willing as the class the 23rd.

Monique Robinson 6:45

Okay. Well, you you already know the year, so that means you about business. You I'm about business. Go there, take in the door, out by four. That's you. I got you. I clearly get it. Well, welcome again. And um so why HBCU for

Why HBCUs Matter For Him

Monique Robinson 7:01

you?

SPEAKER_04 7:01

Um, I believe for HBCU, um when it comes to young black people in America, I I believe HBCU is a really, really big experience. Um I I believe it's a great experience because you can have so many connections with uh multiple people in life and then the future that can have the same skin as you, can have the same surroundings as you. Um, but also it can be long-lasting really till the future. And I also love the idea of really telling that black history that uh isn't uh being told throughout these last few years. Um I would say in multiple different institutions. So with something like an HBCU, it's really that uh institution that I believe all black people, young black people should be in, um that uh really gives them that uh I almost say a wake-up call to their uh liberation, modern day liberation, I would say.

Finding Morehouse Without School Guidance

Monique Robinson 8:16

Wow. Okay, so um being that you are in school in Illinois and your high school experience, were you uh were your did your teachers kind of introduce you to HBCUs or you just had to navigate for yourself?

SPEAKER_04 8:34

Uh it was really something I just navigated uh for myself. Um it it was kind of a an interesting journey because um I had to being the only person in my high school class, I had to really try to find that um right fit for me. Um there was numerous um choices that I was going with, um whether it was LSU or UIC um or NCAT. Morehouse um was really that choice for me, which is a HBCU, and it really um it it really was like a love at first sight type thing. It it really caught my eye as soon as I looked deeper into it, and it was really my choice just from day one.

Monique Robinson 9:30

Okay. That's awesome. I I really thank you for you sharing that with me now. You said the only one. Are you meaning you were only person? You were a different, you were not traditional student for schooling.

SPEAKER_04 9:44

I'm I'm sorry. Okay.

Monique Robinson 9:47

You were you can go to a traditional school or you were homeschooled.

SPEAKER_04 9:52

Uh yes, ma'am. I I would I would say I um I didn't have a traditional uh high school uh experience. Uh it was a religious private school in the south side of Chicago. Um it was a very limited um number of students in the school. It's K through 12, but it it was a very limited um amount of students there. Um usually aside from the normal public schools with um the AP classes and the and the um uh athletic programs, it was kind of a it was kind of a whole different experience where it dealt it dived more into discipline and more into um uh theology and had multiple um examples of black liberation and empowerment.

Monique Robinson 10:49

Okay, okay, because I was trying to unuse you said the only one. I got nervous. I'm like, wait a minute, what type of school is this? So thank you for being transparent and sharing that with me. Now, um, are you ready to read your essay?

Essay On Shifting Finish Lines

Monique Robinson 11:05

Or you want to go? Okay, so the floor is all yours. Good luck, do your best. You got this.

SPEAKER_04 11:15

So, for the uh topic of the essay, it was how I will rise as an HBCU scholar and push forward even when the finish line shifts. And um how I answered that was with this essay. The idea of the finish line shifting became real to me last May when I learned I was accepted to Morehouse College. At that point, I had already accepted UIC's offer, not knowing what Morehouse would provide financially. When I decided to accept Morehouse's offer, instead, I realized that it was too late. I missed the deposit deadline and lost my chance to enroll that year. In that moment, I learned that the process is not always linear and that even major opportunities can come with unexpected consequences. Rather than letting that setback define me, I took responsibility for it. I completed a change of start form and committed myself to returning stronger and more prepared. To me, rising as an HBCU scholar means discipline, accountability, and growth. It means building strong relationships with professors and peers, taking ownership of my education and continuing to push forward even when plans change. When the finish line shifts, I will not let it destroy me. I will adjust, learn, and keep moving. My parents have encouraged me to be outgoing, join various groups and clubs, and build connections whenever I go. I will be the first person in my family to attend the HBCU, the first to go to Morehouse College, and the first to leave Illinois for college. Being in a completely new state as the youngest in the family motivates me to really rise to the cage. Growing up in Chicago shaped my mindset and drive. The culture and creativity of my city taught me that success is not handed to. In the predominantly black community, I learned early that you often must work harder and do more just to reach the same position as others. Attending Morehouse allows me to honor where I come from while building a future that reaches beyond my environment. It gives me the opportunity to create a legacy that connects Chicago to Atlanta and inspires others in both places. One of the biggest challenges I have faced was navigating financial uncertainty and being delayed from starting college on my original timeline. When I realized I would not be enrolling at Morehouse that year, I felt embarrassed and shocked. I had my entire four-year journey planned out, believing that it would shape me into a better man and a better person. I wasn't angry nor sad, just disappointed. And all I could do was smile. Looking back, it almost felt comical. I've been searching for something more out of life, a fresh start, and when I finally had that opportunity, I mishandled it. Instead of letting that moment hold me back, I turned it into a productive gap year. I focused on applying for scholarships, completing community service, joining leadership programs, and even started training for baseball as I'm trying to be a walk-on athlete this upcoming year. This time taught me more than I expected. I realized that if I had started college immediately, I may not have been ready for Atlanta. Being forced to wait allowed me to mature, rise as an HBCU scholar, and push forward, even when the finish line shifts. It allowed me to refocus and prepare myself mentally and emotionally. When the finish line shifts, I now understand that patience and perseverance can turn setbacks into preparation. And that's the end of my essay.

Leaving A Mark At Morehouse

Monique Robinson 15:20

Awesome, also, wonderful job. And I truly enjoyed um how you overcome your obstacles in the situation. So you turned your um turned your purpose on in going through your um situation, which is really, really remarkable. Now, um how do you plan on leaving your mark on campus once you you know you get to Morehouse, you go through school, but how do you plan on leaving your mark there?

SPEAKER_04 15:52

Well, knowing how Morehouse is already such a very prestigious institution, it's definitely a a difficult task, but it's a task that I am prepared and ready for. Um I plan to make a lot of great connections on my way there um in Morehouse. Um, especially pursuing uh journalism major after these four years, I I'll strive to, you know, really have great connections with the young writers and the young uh journalists that's going on to, you know, have the same uh career path I'm trying to have as well. And also to really really excel as a scholar. Um one of my biggest goals um going into Morehouse is to become a uh valedictorian amongst my uh class, and I believe with the right uh hard work and just the right work ethic, um, I believe I can do that as well. And I also believe that the energy I bring personally, I believe will uh bring out a positive outlook on many other different uh students in the Morehouse institution and really have a small piece of them or have a small piece of me in them um so they could remember me as that as a good person or a good friend or a good student in this case.

Monique Robinson 17:36

Okay, well that was that was awesome, totally awesome. Now we have to take a short commercial break, and when we come back, um I want you to tell our audience and our listening, because this is it goes on um Apple Music and all those platforms, but it also goes across everywhere. So no matter how you're listening or where our audience are located, I want you to tell us or tell them after this commercial why they should vote for you. So you got a little bit of time to think about it right after this.

SPEAKER_01 18:10

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Monique Robinson 18:40

Welcome back. I told you it was gonna be long, but it was gonna be a little brief. So welcome back. If you are watching, we are with another wonderful contestant uh in the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Stipend. Now, he he needs your help. Now, if you look at the screen, you know where he is going, and those are big shoes to feel, but I'm quite sure he is up for the challenge because if you heard his essay, he's ready.

Why He Earns Your Vote

Monique Robinson 19:06

So, why should people vote for you?

SPEAKER_04 19:09

I believe people should vote for me because I have a very unique background. Um being born and raised as a um a black Muslim in America, I believe that has its own challenges and struggles to really rise above the occasion in the hierarchy, I would say, of America when it comes to jobs and um big opportunities in life. Um also the fact that not to mention me taking this gap here really um caused me to take a step back and really uh realign with what my true goal is or what my true goals were. And with that, it kinda has it kind of gives me a chip on my shoulder because I know that I need to I overperform um as most of my peers would be doing their first years, um, or sorry, their second years, the sophomore years, I would be having my freshman year. So I know that I need to step up as a scholar and just overall as a person to not only make a statement in Morehouse, but also strive to achieve the same or more things that my other peers uh have done. Um also I believe that I have a really good personality, a a really loving personality that I would say if you give me an obstacle, I will try my hardest to overcome it. I am funny enough, a a stubborn person when it comes to challenges, and I believe that I will give my all in anything, whether it's big or small. I will try my hardest to really give my all into that. And I'm very I'm a very imaginative person, so with the goals and with the dreams I have, I really can visualize what the dreams can be and how that dream can be a reality. And hopefully, um with the voters of the audience um all over the world, I I really um believe that if you put your faith in me, I will achieve those goals. I will make the world a better place and actually achieve those dreams.

Monique Robinson 21:46

Awesome, awesome. Well, thank you for sharing. Now, guys, I hope you like, share, comment, and most definitely vote for our scholars. They do have their own voting link. And it's unique, you can scroll down and you will definitely find his name. As well as his school. Now, um, did you have any other things? I I gotta ask you this because I ask everybody before we we wrap it up and go.

Move In Countdown And Alumni Support

Monique Robinson 22:09

Um, on a scale to one to ten, how ready are you to go to school?

SPEAKER_04 22:14

11. 11. 11. I'm ready.

Monique Robinson 22:22

She's like, I'm ready. I'm I'm ready. Now you know they're gonna watch this, right? Well I understand, I understand. So moving day is it about two months or one month?

SPEAKER_04 22:37

Uh uh August 18th would be the move in day.

Monique Robinson 22:42

Oh wow. So you you are past ready. You said 11. Okay. So um before we get out of here, because it might be some more house alum watching, tell the m what else what you need, because you you're about to go to the house.

SPEAKER_04 22:56

Um I I would definitely say um aside aside from the monetary um situation with the supplies and tuition and things of that nature, I will I will also say with connections, I will also say, you know, well, I would say that the connections is really the biggest part, you know. Me trying to get out of my comfort zone, always be adjusted to the Midwest side of America, me going down to the south, I I think that's gonna be a very um interesting experience. So I would love for all the Morehouse alumni or the Morehouse um well, the Morehouse alumni uh watching this to really connect with me and hopefully can help me out during my academic journey.

Monique Robinson 23:48

Awesome. And I think that's really good of you to ask uh for that type of support. And the reason why I say that is going to a new place is is hard already to go, but it's easy if you go with connections.

SPEAKER_08 24:04

Right.

Monique Robinson 24:04

And so as we had our our send-off yesterday, and watching the connections that were made just off of hey, I'm going to that school too. You know, let's exchange numbers. And that's that's the true meaning of HBCU, uh, pride and connections and collaboration. So look at you, you already networking. You better go. So um thank you guys for watching.

Thanks Sponsors Voting And Wrap Up

Monique Robinson 24:30

I've been here listening and talking with, I'm gonna say your name, I'm gonna try to say it right. Don't be mad at me, but Mr. I've been sitting here with Mr. Nazir, uh, who is a very intelligent uh black excellence right here, telling us um about how he overcame his obstacle. And I wish you luck in the contest as well. You know, we we got to September to get it. So you all you know vote for him, um, or just follow along with anticipation like I am, because I can't really vote. I can cheer, I can coach, but then don't let me vote. And again, before we get out of here, I would like to say thank you to everybody who donated, participated, stopped by, supported our scholars. Um, it's a big huge shout out to Dr. Sharon Crockett Ray for what she did for our St. Philip students. Uh big shout out to Austin area. I messed it up. Austin Area Urban League by way of San Antonio satellite office of the Urban League. Quincy Dunlap and family uh team. Thank you all for helping with the send-off. And finally, you like that, she got a whole bunch of church announcements. And finally, um, again, Southern University alum showed up and showed out as well as Pray. So it's been fun. I've been sitting here with with my new friend here, and I wish him much success at Morehouse. Um, I always like to see, you know, the freshman week and the festivities that go on with that. So I'm I'm happy for you. That's a big deal. So anything you need from us, reach out, let us know, uh, regardless if you win or not.

SPEAKER_04 26:13

Yes, so thank you for bringing me in the show, of course.

Monique Robinson 26:17

Definitely anytime, anytime. If you if you need help with anything, let me know. I have students on campus there, and they they'll always be willing to help because everybody, you know, that's there have been in your shoes before. So good luck, and uh see you guys next time on a Better Chance Television show.

SPEAKER_02 26:37

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Monique Robinson 27:03

Tune in to a better chance for youth television show with Host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network. A television show dedicated to highlighting incredible students on the change the world. Join us every week as we uplift the youth and help them on their journey to the right youth. At the Better Chance for Youth Television Show with Host Monique Robinson on the Daily Doctor Network. Thanks for watching a Better Chance for Youth Television Show with your host Monique Robinson. The television show where we highlight incredible students in their quest to change the world. Join us each and every week as we uplift our youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. So until next time, God bless. From your friends on a Better Chance for Youth Television show with your host Monique Robinson.