College has always been that one thing that most people know from the jump was going to happen. "College is a great experience, you will make friends that will last you a lifetime." or at least thats what I was always told. What I wasn't told is that where you go to college really does shape the rest of your life. Going into my junior year in high school I had a mother who was a proud graduate of Howard University, a sister who went to Ohio State, another sister who entered her freshman year at Temple University and a brother who just graduated from Temple University, I was so sure that I would be content with applying to Penn State University and enjoying 4 years of furthering my studies in Mass Communication. Attending a predominately black high school it was very likely that you heard my classmates talking about the HBCU's they wanted to attend and how they just can't wait to go to college! Then it came to "Nia where do you want to go?", my answer never got as much excitement as the next person. It was more like a "why? Girl you not going to have any friends! You're going to be the only black girl there! Your going to come back to DC a totally different person!" This is whats wrong with our generation, PWI stands for PREDOMINATELY White Institution. If I were to be the "only black girl there" it would be called an AWI (All White Institution).
Although I continued to tell people PSU was my top choice, I did begin to question the decision. Soon I took it upon myself to visit the school and as soon as I got there my decision was changed. I did not want to be attending Penn State University in the Fall of 2016. I couldn't see myself in the atmosphere that the school had and I just knew that if I forced myself to like this school the next 4 years of my life would be miserable. Yet my choice wasn't determined by the lack of black people at the school nor is my top choice now NCCU due to the great amount of black students at the school. The PWI vs HBCU debate continues to live on because people seem to think that they can determine what is best for others and thats not the case at all. Regardless of if you are black, white, yellow, green or pink if you decide that a PWI is the best decision for you then thats up to you. Even though you'll continue to hear "your missing out on the most memorable experiences of your life by going to a PWI" then thats something you choose to live with.
Another sad misconception is that black students choose to go to an HBCU due to them not wanting to invade another races space. As an African american high school student, who had a variety of PWI's in her top 10 choices for college, I can honestly say I have or never did care about the amount of other races at a school as long as it was the best decision for me! I know that their are a lot of others who think like this. If black students were afraid to invade another race's space then there would be not be any at PWI's. To be black is a wonderful thing, I guarantee you it will last you your entire life so the idea that your "getting away from people you've been around all your life" by going to a PWI is a joke. Its black people EVERYWHERE so going to either a PWI or HBCU you'll be around people you've been around all your life regardless. The decision is yours to make, just make sure you are able to experience each school for yourself before making a choice. Diversity at a school will not build you up or break you down, its up to you what makes you a better person.
College has always been that one thing that most people know from the jump was going to happen. "College is a great experience, you will make friends that will last you a lifetime." or at least thats what I was always told. What I wasn't told is that where you go to college really does shape the rest of your life. Going into my junior year in high school I had a mother who was a proud graduate of Howard University, a sister who went to Ohio State, another sister who entered her freshman year at Temple University and a brother who just graduated from Temple University, I was so sure that I would be content with applying to Penn State University and enjoying 4 years of furthering my studies in Mass Communication. Attending a predominately black high school it was very likely that you heard my classmates talking about the HBCU's they wanted to attend and how they just can't wait to go to college! Then it came to "Nia where do you want to go?", my answer never got as much excitement as the next person. It was more like a "why? Girl you not going to have any friends! You're going to be the only black girl there! Your going to come back to DC a totally different person!" This is whats wrong with our generation, PWI stands for PREDOMINATELY White Institution. If I were to be the "only black girl there" it would be called an AWI (All White Institution). 
great topic. you have brought a lot to think about. such as does it really matter what school you go to. the pictures spoke for themselves. great job. very influential.
ReplyDeleteYour post was very creative and entertaining for me as a reader and a viewer. I really liked the second picture with the woman and the two sweaters. That was really creative. I agree with your stance as a whole.
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Colleges and universities are big companies and big business. Their partners are huge businesses with a big appetite for survival. There is no problem with that - unless what they say to survive is not the whole story on how they impact you.
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