How has your upbringing shaped where you are today?

• “Having both parents in my life who both went to college, and having siblings who are college graduates has helped give me a direction of where I wanted to go in life.”

What is your definition of the grey area? 

• “Probably dealing with what you don’t see. People say on paper it’s black and white but when you read between the lines you find a grey area. For example, I am a black male and I am from the south. Because I grew up with two parents, went to high school, earned a college degree, I feel I shouldn’t have been subjected to racism because I ‘checked all of the boxes’ on paper and everything looked good. However, what lies underneath is a deep problem. Although I checked all of the boxes because I am a black man I experienced racism.”

Can you talk to me about your emotions/struggles in the grey area?

• “A battle within yourself. For me, the grey area was the decision to join the military. I joined the Army National Guard so they can pay for school. While some people of different races have had other opportunities where they did not have to go join the military to get something paid for. If I hadn’t joined the military I probably would not have finished school or it would have taken a lot longer for me to have finished school.”

When beginning college, what were your initial feelings and thoughts?

• “I attended a state school in the city and a lot of people went there from my high school, so it was an easy transition from high school. However, freshman year was a little bit difficult for me because I was marching in the band and I had to worry about other activities while dealing with my academic work as well. So, there was a bit of adjustment to get through that versus a regular student who did not have to balance extracurricular activities and academics. “

Post-Graduation, what were your feelings and thoughts?

• “A relief, I’m done. I was taking 18 hours at the time and I was pushing my senior year just to get out of school. I was happy I graduated. There were no big feelings, I didn’t walk at my graduation. I knew it was a big accomplishment but in my mind getting my master’s degree was a bigger accomplishment that is out of the norm for everyone to have. So, when I earn my masters I will walk in graduation.” 

Is your post-graduation timeline still the same? If not, what changed?

• “It is hard getting a job, I shifted my direction of what I wanted to do in marketing and am looking more into the digital side aspect or marketing, such as IT. Traditional marketing face to face is not where the world is headed. So I needed to change myself to get on with the new trends in the corporate world.”

Post-graduation, what is your view of college?

• “I believe in college and what it has to offer.  If you are not doing anything and are in limbo, I say go to college. On paper, a bachelor’s degree is better than having no degree at all.”