Sisterhood Beyond the Gates

[Transcripts are auto-generated]

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to sisterhood beyond the gates, the virtual alumni panel as that participant number is, is increasing, I will continue to watch that number for it to stabilize before we officially get started, but get comfortable. Welcome, welcome, welcome. As you are entering this webinar, we encourage you to let us know in the chat Of course, we're always going to do a roll call. So let us know where you're from. I'm sure our panelists want to know where you're from. And then also I would love if you can let us know what you learned during your time here at Spa bound so far. So you've been here with us for now three days. Tell us what you learned maybe about Spelman about yourself. What did you gain from fall down so far? We just were curious. We want to know. So let us know in the chat. We see a lot of introductions of places I see Jamaica, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, Flint, Michigan. We have the DMV, of course. Maryland, Virginia, Colorado. Welcome, Dubai. Welcome, welcome. Awesome. So keep your introductions come in. Let us know where you're from. Angel from Colorado, I've learned about all the programs Spelman has absolutely we have Philly here. Welcome. So I'm Tatiana. I hope I said your name right in Atlanta and the opportunities that are always available. Absolutely. Atlanta is a great city for not only college students, but young professionals and it's just a great city in general, California, Alabama. Awesome, awesome. So for the interest of time, we are going to go ahead and get started. We had so much to share with you, our panelists, our lineup of panelists, they are absolutely amazing. So I do not want to stall any longer. But before I begin with a formal welcome, we will actually bring Sydney back into the session. So we will have a welcome from Sydney. Followed by my welcome and then we will get started. So Sydney take it away.

Whoo what I day everyone full of classes and learning opportunities, add extra extracurriculars, and you'll get a small idea of what a typical day for us bomanite might look like. With Spelman. Being in my backyard, I was always aware of the amazing women that graduated from Spelman, ie my mom and my sister, of course, however, some of you may have just learned about Spelman, or you only know a little bit about Spelman and this and still want to hear it from different perspectives. Current Students and I have constantly express how much we love Spelman. But you all want to hear from women who have graduated and live the journey that is Spelman College. Well, this next panel is an opportunity for you to get just that. This time is designated for you all to hear from a diverse group of alumni that built a foundation for their lives with Spelman College. They went in classes, majors, backgrounds, aspirations, and much more. This is a special treat because the sisterhood at Spelman is not something we play about. It is a wonderful feeling to know that you have sisters all around the world that are doing wonderful things and always have your bag ispell down left you with nothing else. I'm sure this conversation will leave you with hidden gems. I cannot wait to join my sisters and be a part of the worldwide sisterhood that has existed for 140 years. So enjoy everyone.

Awesome. Thank you, Sydney. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, we are going to get get started. So um, Good evening, everyone. Good afternoon for those who may be on the west coast. Thank you for joining us for day three of summons Admitted Student events. Of course, you've been here in the last few seconds. So welcome back. And of course, the theme for this year's program is spellbound The Odyssey volume 140. So as a reminder, my name is Miss Diana Schuler, I serve as one of the assistant directors of admissions at Spelman College, as well as the admissions counselor for students from the west coast and from the South Atlantic region as well. In addition, it is my pleasure of course to be with you today. As a reminder, this session is titled sisterhood beyond the gates and it will run from about 6:15pm eastern standard time until approximately 7:30pm eastern standard time as well. Before I turn it over to our moderator to kick us off today, I do want to share a few housekeeping items that you're probably familiar with already. But we're going to remind you once again that this is a webinar so therefore we cannot see the audience but you can actually see myself and our panelists, guests can utilize the chat function of this virtual platform to post questions that will be answered directly in the chat or address live as well. This session will be recorded and can be accessed via this platform by the end of the week. And then last but not least, in order to view today's agenda, you will select that option at the top of the spellbound virtual site. And then without further ado, at this time, I'm going to turn it over to miss Brianna July for her to kick us off with our q&a. So thank you and enjoy.

Thank you Miss Natty. So hello, sisters. Congratulations and welcome. I want to thank you all for joining the final session, which is again, sisterhood beyond the gates. So I am your moderator. My name is Brianna July. I'm class of 2018. And I did major in computer science. I'm originally from Mobile, Alabama, but I do currently live in Dallas, Texas, where I am a customer engineer at Microsoft. So now I'm going to ask that all the panelists Please introduce themselves in alphabetical order by first name. And we're gonna give our Spelman intros right. So named graduation, your major, minor hometown and current profession, and we're gonna kick things off with Miss Angela. Gabriel, let's go you.

Hello, I am so excited to be here. My name is Gabriel Liang Can't I am class of 2010 I hail from Phoenix, Arizona. I was an English major with a double minor of women's studies and creative writing. Currently, I am the CEO of dream Maven, which is a full fledged branding, marketing events and communications firm. And I live in Washington DC currently. So good to be here with you all.

Thank you.

Hi, everyone. I'm so happy to be here with you all tonight. My name is Elliot Edwards. I am from Florence, South Carolina. I am class of 2019. I graduated with a BA and comparative women's studies from Spelman. From there I came to Duke University to get my abs and accelerated bachelors in nursing and graduated from there in 2019. Well, that's 2019 2020 this past December, and I currently work at Duke hospital. I'm currently at work right now. So please excuse me with the mask and everything my uniform all that great stuff in the fall. This fall. I will be going back to get my masters to become a women's health nurse practitioner practitioner. Thank you for having me.

Thank you, Jessica.

Greetings, everyone. I'm Jessica Harris class of 2009. I was a psychology major and Spanish minor. I hail from the Chicagoland area and I'm currently a nonprofit fundraising strategy. Thanks for having me.

Thank you, Mikey.

Hi, everybody. I am my Kia Frazier Spelman College class of 2019. While at Spelman, I majored in early childhood education. I graduated with my BA Of course, from riseborough, Georgia. After I left Spelman, I went to Georgia Southern University to get my master's of education and elementary education. So I spent my first year teaching and going back to school at the same time. And now I'm currently a fourth grade teacher still on teaching language arts and writing in the Liberty County school system. And I'm also back in school getting my education specialist in teacher leadership. And I'm just happy to be here with you guys today.

Thank you, Morgan.

All right. Good evening, everyone. My name is Morgan Robinson, and I am class of 2017. I was a history major while I was at Spelman, and I'm originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and I'm still here. After I completed my time at Spelman, I went on to get my master's in history at Georgetown and I'm currently a client service specialist for a nonprofit that works with veterans working remotely up in DC so I'm so happy to be here.

Thank you, Morgan shine

everyone.

My name is I'm chontae strater I go by Shawnee. I am at Spelman College class of 2015. And I was a comparative comparative Women's Studies major and a Spanish minor. I am originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado. So for the two people I saw on the chat that are from Colorado, hello there. You know, there's like two of us. So shout out to um, I live in Atlanta right now. So in like two weeks, I'm going to get my Master's of Public Health from a Emory University and similar to i,

Leah,

I will be going back to school so that I can become a midwife.

That's amazing. Angela.

Yes. Did we have that wonderful technology Murphy's Law thing where as soon as it was time my zoom dropped.

Oh What happened?

But um, Angela Baskerville and first of all, I'm delighted to be here. I am here to remind everyone that there is life after decades of being away from college. I am class in 1987. Yes, Spelman was around in 87. There was 140 years include 1987. I'm originally from Birmingham, Alabama, but I have been in Atlanta since graduating. So that makes me a native atlantan. I think now, my degree was in computer science, and I am still working in the technology arena. Today, I have responsibility for software engineers and software development teams at at&t. And again, I'm delighted to be here. Thank you for having me.

Perfect, perfect. Thank you all so much for your spilman intros, you also be practicing those. So please keep practicing. But so I don't want to hold this off any longer. I don't want to kick things off. I want to hear about you all's Spelman story. I mean, we all have a Spelman story. What made us want to go to Spelman or something. So I want to kick things off. And Jessica, can we start with you?

I knew you were looking at me. Of course. So my story is an interesting one. I went to an all girls high school here in the Chicagoland area. And I remember maybe as a freshman, my mom dropping the Spelman see, you know, you should think about Spelman. And I thought at the time absolutely not right. I did not want to be at an all girls school at the time. But you know, as you mature, as you grow into who you're becoming, you start to realize you're right where you're supposed to be. And somewhere around maybe my junior year, I actually became an advocate for single gender education. And so I was going on speaking tours and things like this kind of helping encourage girls to consider High School such as mine, and ultimately, I knew I wanted to go to an HBCU being one of maybe eight blacks in my high school class. And so that was a no brainer, and it came down to Hampton and Spelman and everything in me said Spelman, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Thank you, all these questions are gonna be up for grabs. So please feel free to come off mute unless so Mikey, go.

Here we go. Briana? All

right. So my phone story is an interesting one. When I was in elementary school, my best friend's favorite movie was ATL with ti and, you know, boiling this. And for some reason, I just really wanted to know why Nunu wanted to go to Spelman so bad. I didn't get it, why she was living a double life. And after seeing that movie, I said, You know what, let me do my research because obviously, it's something about Spelman. That's just making this girl changed her life. I saw her movements and Packard I said, You know what, let me just do my research. And that started when I was in the fifth grade. And then next year, in the sixth grade, my teacher asked me where was I going to school? I said at Spelman, I did my research, I found out I had a cousin that went to Spelman. My parents were like, are you going to go all the way to Atlanta? I said, Yes, I am. And I can't wait to do it. I stepped on campus. November 10 2014. was my first time going to Spelman College. I remember the day because being there was just like, yep, this is it. This is it. And my parents like Are you sure? I said, We don't need to apply anywhere else. I said, this is it. And that's kind of how my Spelman story began, saying that was I give all of my shout outs to the movie ATL because that is what really put me on my path to Spelman. And once I got on it, it was literally no going back. That was it for me. So that's my spelling

story.

Thank you, Gabriel.

So my seven still, everyone thinks so. I was always interesting. I don't have any family that had gone to Spelman. I actually found out about Spellman when I was home. I'm originally from Indianapolis, Indiana is where my mother's family's from. And she always sent us back for the summers which I appreciate greatly because growing up He makes, I was the one and only all the time. And there was a summer we went to the black Expo. And this lady Justin already handed me a calendar was HBCU calendar. And when I opened it up on March, it was the little black girl in front of the stepsisters chapel, saying let her first steps being I was like, I don't know what this is, but that's where I'm going right. And fast forward to high school. I actually did really well, starting off in high school, and then I experienced some pretty significant hardships in my life with my mother being sick. And so I actually did not get into Spelman. When I applied as a senior, but that stopped me absolutely not. In 2004. I packed up my car and drove from Phoenix, Arizona, to Atlanta, got an apartment, gotten to a local community college because I had taken courses while I was in high school, because they had like a higher grades, it had college credits, and I transferred into Spelman, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. So going to Spelman literally changed my life. Anybody who knows me if you ask them from the time I was eight, what was I doing? I was going to Spelman College. And so I just celebrated 10 years last year 2020. And it's so important to know that you want to go to an HBCU because I got my masters at Arizona State University's and it is not the same, not the same.

So I want to hear from you what what's your film his story.

Um, interestingly, I did not have anyone to tell me about Spelman or suggested I had a counselor, a college counselor, tell me to come to a high school, college forum and just kind of be the, I don't know, Vanna White poster girl for walking around home to make sure that there was participation. And Spelman happened to have been recruiting didn't really know anything about it. I just knew that most of my friends were staying in, in the city of Birmingham to go to school and I wanted to do something very different. It was intriguing to me that it was a college of, you know, just black women. And I felt like there would be a lot of nurturing there. Interestingly enough, I didn't really understand what the pool was. Because no one had talked to me about Spelman. And it wasn't until I was about to graduate, my senior year that I found out that I had a paternal aunt who went to Spelman. In two uncles who went to Morehouse, I have an uncle who actually was at Morehouse with Martin Luther King. And it's embarrassing to have not known that legacy, honestly. But it was him and his sister that went to Spelman and Morehouse and I did not know that I. And I feel like that is what that connection was about. You know, it sounds very Zen and New Age, but there was a pool there. And there was an attraction that's probably just embedded in my DNA, and I never regretted it, honestly.

Love it. Thank you. Thank you for that. So I want to say when we've made those first steps on Spelman campus our freshman year, it's just something about it that we just, it's different. It's a different type of art. So I want to hear from Shawnee. What surprised you about Spelman when you first arrived during your freshman year?

Yeah, so similar to Gabriel growing up in Colorado,

didn't see many of me and so my family's originally from New Orleans. So the only time I wouldn't be around, like a group of black people was my was when I went to New Orleans. But that was, I guess, because it was family. It wasn't like, weird or different or anything. So I get to Atlanta. And I'm like, I was just like in shock. It was a culture shock, which sounds weird because I am black. But it was a culture shock because I had not grown up around that at all. But I mean it I was hooked immediately. And I was like this is incredible to meet. To meet black women from everywhere, right? I I just was like, I never even heard some of the I mean, a lot of people say they've never heard of anyone being from Colorado, but I had never even heard of some of the cities or states or countries that people were from and I'm like this is this is just incredible. And I mean, Atlanta hooked me so much that I am still here. I moved to Los Angeles and move right back. Because I love it here so much. But specifically Spelman just showed me like wow, like this is, this is what like being a black woman could be okay like, stateless.

I have to agree.

I'm like stepping into the gates of Spelman, like it just showed me all about sisterhood. And I think that was one of the reasons that I chose them. And like growing up, I didn't know that's what I needed. And I was like, I don't know, like everyone has kind of mentioned so far, like, we never really experienced that. And so that love that I got from like all of my sisters there and just like appreciation of who we are in like as black women, our hair, our names like everything about us in just like loving us and our culture, everything about it. Like I just love Spelman. And I think that's what stood out to me, especially in that first year that that bond that I made, that I never really got throughout like my life in you know, secondary school and all that good stuff. So that's what really, really made me loved it throughout my four years, but especially that first year with that bonding, you know, with no,

no air, you

know what I mean? You know,

it's different. Morgan, you're from Atlanta. So what was that like for you?

Ah, I'm from Atlanta, and I grew up literally 2030 minutes away from campus. So super familiar with the area, heard so much about it, my family, a UC alum, so I knew coming here that was going to be a good fit. But stepping in that first day moving day, I was like, Okay, this is it, I made the right decision. This is going to be my home for the next four years. And immediately my roommate and I just clicked her friend from high school, we click the girls on my floor, shout out to every Hall, we all click on the first floor. So just being here and stepping here and just being in seeing people who not only looked like me, even though I did grow up in an environment where everyone looked like me. But seeing so many people from outside of Georgia outside of the south from other places from different backgrounds that I hadn't necessarily encountered before coming to Spelman was just phenomenal. And I was just like, yeah, this is it. I I did that I made the right decision with this. So I was so excited and just like lives really enjoyed this because I can't wait. I'm going to treasure this as much as I can.

Morgan I you you brought up the dorms. It is too early. You can't go. You can't go there too soon. I don't want to. But no. So I know that more than you mentioned your family being like a UC alumna. What I want to hear from the panelists now is I mean, how would you really describe that connection Spelman has with the other AUC institutions? Right. So Morehouse and Clark Atlanta being right there, what opportunities are there with with a UC with Morehouse and Clark together?

So just the connections alone as an alum, I can run into someone like oh yeah, I'm Spelman class and so on. And so I had on my shirt the other day and I was like, hey, Spelman sister. And we were chit chatting and next you know, exchanging information about different things. I'm so many people from Morehouse, so many people from Clark, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morris Brown, hopefully there'll be back soon Vale, they'll just light up and just be willing, so willing to reach out to you and help you with so many different opportunities. I've definitely had friends of mine from the other schools reach out and share information with me about different opportunities professionally personally, that they knew that I would have interest in. So just building that connection even then it's always a little rivalry like hey Spellman number one and we are but we always make it a point to really work together and support each other and make sure that as an entire unit that AUC is always doing the best that we can and being super successful and going out into the world and just doing amazing so I I cannot speak enough to ac unity.

Thanks more deshante What are your thoughts?

So again, coming Well, I didn't say this earlier, but my dad was in the army and then my mom got her GED later in life. So I didn't have this experience of like, basically my family going to college or anything and so when I got here, again, it was an incredible experience but to this day, and now that I live in Atlanta, a lot of people you know, I have my Spellman plates on the car and all that and so it's it's it's just like family in Atlanta but I think whenever I go anywhere else if I have a Spelman shirt on which I wear, I wear Spelman attire so much that I didn't have anything to wear today because it was all dirty. And I was like, you know what we will have to do a blue shirt and a pin. But every time I wear it's like someone Someone has something to say. And it's just such an incredible thing, no matter if they went to an HBCU or if they didn't they just know about Spelman. It's just always this like really friendly connection. But I think the even cooler thing is like, while I'm at Emory and I think, um, I think Gabriel mentioned this just like being at a different insert, or like a DWI, getting your master's, obviously different than being at your HBCU and undergrad. But I think that when you when you have people who have either went to HBCUs, or went to the AC, it's it just becomes like a family all over again. So not only those four years, you're there however long you are there. You you like create these amazing experiences with your classmates and Morehouse brothers Clark Atlanta, brothers and sisters. Um, when you graduate that doesn't go anywhere. Like I I think I met nyati in, in Los Angeles, I'm pretty sure. And like, I now now we're here. And then I've seen some of you all on the panel before on that on another panel. So it's like that, like connection never goes away. And I I mean, anytime like, it's like, anytime I get to meet another woman Sister, I am so excited. Like, it's like I've never met one before. Like, it's just it just keeps happening. And it's a really beautiful experience.

Thank you Shaunie. Jessica, I want to end this one off with you. Was the AUC opportunities look like in your experience with Morehouse and Clark?

Yeah, I mean, like everyone has said, the bond is real, right? Obviously, the sisterhood is real, but it extends so far beyond and it instantly changes the conversation, right? So if you're not wrapping your school, but somehow it comes out. I mean, I was just in the grocery store this past weekend, and I had on my delta masala Delta, and struck up a conversation with the cashier, right? And she was like, oh, my goodness, she was out so my whole family's the Delta, right? And then it turned into well, where did you go to college and the son of SS Spelman, that woman was grinning from ear to ear with a sense of plie. Right. And so that always happens. And when you even at work great, you never know you meet somebody, and you get to talk and you want to sell me tomorrow. Oh, shoot, right. And it changes the nature of your relationship and of your experience. And so I cherish it, I treasure it and it absolutely extends beyond the gates, beyond the agency. So many, you know, Morehouse brothers and Clyde brothers and sisters. And whenever we need something, we're there for each other. So it's pretty awesome.

Perfect, perfect. Thank you. So you know, we were talking about some of the opportunities and before we actually dig too deep, I want to talk about the financial aspect. Right. So we have a question that kicked in Gabriel, I actually want you to kick this one off, right. So as a first generation student, the only reason why I'm hesitating to become a thermos sister is the financial aspect. I'm curious to know if any of the panelists have any advice with debt and long term planning with loans with loans way after graduation?

So, great question. And let me tell you all, finances are always going to be a factor. I had absolutely no money. When I got to Spelman College. I literally went to financial aid. It was like, I'm not going home. So Y'all better find it. And I'm not going back to Arizona, like literally it's not even an option. And I remember sitting in the noid Jackson's office pleading like, what scholarships Do you have, I will do anything, I will get a job like I'm not supposed to be here. And it was a sad story, but it also ended up being a blessing. So I'm actually a recipient of the bonus scholarship. The Wagner scholarship is only given to first year students. And there is only a certain amount of slots. The young lady who thought that I was able to take had just lost her mother prior to attending school. And it resonated so deeply because my mother again had was fighting uterine cancer my senior year. And I just remember when they were like you are just have just enough credits to be a first year and to get the scholarship. You have to pay it forward. And the Bama scholarship literally changed my life is a service based scholarship. I did 40 hours of community service. Like all the time, I also became a Resident Assistant. I worked on campus, I tutored. So yes, finances are going to be a factor. But if you are invested in going to the school, and and not afraid to ask for help, someone will help you stay there. I remember my senior year, I was like 5000, short from what I needed to graduate. And Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum came up with the starfish fund. And I'm recipient of that scholarship. But I remember literally going to the office learning about loans, learning about all of the grants so that I could fund my education. And I ended up being very successful. I did have to work. But I am first generation as well. And I can tell you, I don't regret any of it. I had to ask for help. But I graduated right and also going to my masters. What helped me pay for my master's is I took a position at the institution that I was getting my degree from to offset the cost. So finances are always going to be a factor. But if you want something says you can get it. You just have to talk to Dr. Nora Jackson.

She's still

like Remember that? Like she was like, I've never had anyone lock themselves in my office. I think it wasn't an option. It wasn't an option.

No, thank you, Gabriel. That's the thing when it comes to I think finances is something that gets all of us because full Spellman is that she and we know that because we felt that. Um, but it's an investment. And it's really all about persistence, right? Like, I got no money coming into Spelman, actually my freshman summer was the only school that didn't get a scholarship from my freshman year. But my sophomore junior and senior year, I networked with faculty and staff similar to Gabriel, I made sure that Miss Jackson was the Director of Financial Aid knew me, right and I made sure that they knew me so I could then just network and put myself out there right. But I always tell students, the ball is in your court when it comes to building but not only building but maintaining those relationships in college. Does anyone else have anything to add to the financial aid aspect? Um,

I would like to say look out for those smaller scholarships, if it's just a book scholarship, 500 $1,000 something, look for apply for it. And also look for the Alumni Association. All the National Alumni Association and Spelman College, the local chapters on where you're located, they offer some sort of book scholarship or small $1,000 scholarship. They do so many fundraising efforts to make sure they can give scholarships out to a lot of Spelman students, oftentimes first year students. When I lived in DC, I was a part of the DC alumni chapter. And we used to give out scholarships every single year, two first year students and they will follow up and just make sure you're doing okay reaching out to students. So please look into what your local Alumni Association is doing what they may be offering scholarship wise, because they are a big part of what they are doing is making sure that they have the funds to give back to students who are at Spelman, so please look to the National Association for the school. They are doing everything they can to make sure they can help us in whatever way

thank you Morgan. Ask out I think we all we all have this right but what can you all say that Spelman gave you that you didn't know you needed? As the final record, got you thinking I like okay. And last

um, you know, it's it's a sense of belonging. It's very interesting to me. As long as I've been away from Spelman how relevant the experience still is today, and probably even more so today because of the social climate. And the notion of being in probably what people would call a bubble prepares you so much for when you become the person who's the only one in the room and the only one at the table. But because you have spent four years or more, seeing yourself day after day after day, and that is not In extraordinary, or edge case for you to do that, there is this very subliminal confidence that's being built. Like every single minute of the day, you being in classrooms, seeing yourself, be the instructor, you seeing your peers who look just like you who are on one accord, and, you know, after the same goal of increasing the quality of their life, if you will, no matter where you came from, and no matter what your pedigree was, or wasn't meager beginnings, moderate beginning silver spoon, you're still there to, you know, increase knowledge and get an education. And the reality is that you're never ever going to be in that situation. Again, I would challenge those who are considering whether or not to make that final decision and actually come through those gates to ask yourself, what other experience is going to differentiate you? The way Spellman would? Because the reality is that this does not exist anywhere else in the world. So think about that. Think about, you know, you don't want to see yourself in, you know, somebody wearing the same outfit as you and you want to differentiate yourself, you want to be special in different, how do you carve that out for yourself? There is not another there are several other HBCUs that we love, right? People just talked about the camaraderie within the AAU center, right? We have right rivalries between us and amongst us, but don't come for another HBCU in our presence, right? However, if we're talking about HBCUs, and we're talking about an institution that nurtures not only women, but black women, this is the experience is the home of black girl magic, right? The phrase got coined later, but we were already doing it. So it's this subtle confidence, self esteem, I can launch a spaceship, have a baby and solve world peace all at the same time. That's being literally dripped in your consciousness for four years. And again, I don't know where else you would find that if you do, let me know. So if you're setting yourself up to be differentiated from your competition, for whatever you are seeking in terms of what your career choices, and life choices are, you're always looking for the thing that's going to give you the best return on your investment. That's just the smart thing to do. And this is it. Because you're going to get that in addition to you're going to get an education no matter where you go. And you're going to be able to put a University's name on your resume. And it's going to show that you had X number of credits and you graduated and you were disciplined about it. But the experience of being nurtured as a black woman, and how that sets you up for what everybody is going to tell you is the real world is there. There are no peers for Spelman. That's just period.

I mean, God, period drop my cuz you did that? I don't know. Anybody don't follow them. Clearly answered it to the tee. Oh, my god, that was good.

That was it.

So the chat is going off. I mean, we love to see it. I'm really quick before we really dive into kind of a student life, right, um, Shaunie and Jessica wants you to answer this question really quick. Um, can you talk about your experience with foreign language programs and the possibility of studying abroad alongside that?

Sure. I mean, Angela, you You definitely hit all the marks on that response. And I'll extend it to say I felt the sense of identity, I discovered the sense of identity that I didn't know I needed at Spelman. And so that ties into my journey with more language. And so, you know, growing up, I found myself often you know, people ask me, you know, the, what are you question, right, and I was really close to my white grandmother, black family, all the things and you never black enough and not white enough. And you have this identity crisis, right. And so in high school, because there weren't many of us of color, especially black, I found close friends and some of my Latino classmates, right. And so my best friend to this day is from my freshman year high school and she's Mexican. And so I kind of found a bit of comfort, right, if I could speak the language. If I enjoyed the food, it could dance the dances, nobody ever asked me what I was right. And so that developed this level of language for me that when I got to Spelman, you know, because I was an IB, Spanish student in high school, I had tested out of Spanish at Spelman, but because I loved it so much, and is found so much identity there. I went on to still study Spanish, at Spelman, and so far and awesome 300 level classes, right, because of that experience. And so I just enjoy that experience tremendously, right. So to meet other folks that look like me that enjoy the culture, the language that for some of them, it was their heritage, right, that they were Puerto Rican, or Dominican, or whatever it may be, because our black is so diverse. And so it really was a great experience for me to continue, as I you know, as I found my own stuff, and my own identity to still have that experience with a foreign language. I did not study abroad, and if I could go back is the one thing I would do differently.

Yeah, similar to Jessica. So I also have a best friend, who I met my freshman year of high school who is from wahaca, Mexico. And I think even before that I had always been really interested in in learning Spanish and just learning a new language. And so by the time I got to like middle school, high school, I started taking, you know, just the regular classes you take. And then when I got to Spelman, I think I was able to test out of a couple of the classes and you know, begin taking more, I guess, the more intense classes at Spelman, and then it was like, Alright, I'm about to study abroad. So I start like looking at different countries. Now I'm a scaredy cat. And I'm not yet ready still, at Today's my birthday at 28. I'm still not ready to fly across the ocean. So I was like, I'm not going to Spain because I have to fly over the ocean again. So I was like, Okay, I have to go somewhere on like the North American or South American continent. So I chose Argentina. And then I learned it was a 10 hour flight, and I was like, wow, I should have just went to Spain. But no, it was, it was an incredible experience. Um, and Spelman definitely helps you to, like the basically the programs that are at Spelman, or at least when I was there, there were plenty of them. And there were a few different countries you could go to, specifically for Spanish, and then comparative Women's Studies, I would say that was probably the most challenging part of finding a program to relate to your major that was comparable in studies because a lot of people are like psychology or political science, it's much easier sometimes in or if your major Spanish, you know, it's much easier to go ahead and and have a program that's more similar. But it all worked out. I was actually in Argentina in 2014. And so they went to the World Cup that year. So I learned a lot about soccer. I know nothing about nothing. I was like, wow, this was so cool. So I definitely would say um, and Dr. Tatum, she basically the goal was to have our entire freshman class study abroad and i think i think that was fulfilled like all of my friends who are, I lived in Abbey do all of my friends who I know still to this day, I think we all studied abroad in some capacity during the summer during winter break during a full semester or a whole year. And there are also my gosh, domestic exchange programs. So I had a friend go to a school in LA that I can't remember the name of and but and also another friend who went to Sarah Lawrence, which I think is in the northeast somewhere. So there's all kinds of opportunities and I would definitely say as soon as you get to Spelman, start figuring it out. If you want to go somewhere, because you have the opportunity, you might as well take it.

Did any of you all study abroad, Shania? No, you just took Well, my Kia Gabriel Morgan.

So I studied abroad, and I did domestic exchange. So I was able to do summer programs in the Netherlands in Turkey. I did a semester abroad in Botswana, and I did a winter program in Germany. And then I did domestic exchange at Wellesley College. So I did a lot. I came in to Spelman freshman year knowing that I wanted to study abroad, I wanted to go to the African continent. So I just did my research and then look so had it that I worked in study abroad on my sophomore year before I went and ended up studying abroad. So when I had downtime, I would just kind of look through the books and see okay, what is this program Like, what options are they having for liberal arts or humanities students? How much is this going to cost? Whenever I would go and put up flyers for different programs coming to speak to students, I would put one in my book bag. So I remember to go and hear them speak and see what type of scholarship opportunities they were offering. Um, and if there were, whenever a scholarship opportunity came up, or any type of funding opportunity came up for the study abroad programs, I was like, I'm putting in the application because I need to be able to pay for this because I'm trying to get my passport, all stamped up. And I did and I'm so proud of myself. That was a big, big goal of mine. And then one of my ra his freshman year, she also did a study abroad and domestic exchange program back to back her junior year. So I was like, I gotta be like Chelsea and do that. So I was like, I'm going to do domestic exchange, right after I come back from studying abroad. And it was an amazing experience. I made some amazing friends and then even met some students who applied to and came down and did domestic exchange at Spelman, the following semester, their junior year, so go for it, if the opportunity presents itself and it's going to present itself several times. Take the chance and just go for it. Absolutely.

I have to agree. I did study abroad. I studied abroad two times while at Spelman. I applaud my sisters who spend a semester away a year away. I was not one of those sisters. I definitely did a two week program. After that 14 days I was like, Okay, I'm ready to get on back home. This has been real sweet. I studied abroad in Ghana. Like my sister just said, I had to get to Africa. I didn't care what it was. I didn't care which country I was going to. But I said, Oh no, we're going to Africa. Before I leave Spelman. I went to Ghana. During my two weeks, that was just enough time. As soon as I started missing home, they're like, okay, we fly out tomorrow. I said, perfect, because I'm ready to get home. I'm like my sister said I was nervous about flying over water, y'all. I am from a small town in South Georgia. riseborough, right outside of Savannah. When they said we were flying over water, I got nervous. But that is one thing. I can honestly say if I would have gone anywhere else, I don't think I would have done it. Because my sister said girl go, when will you get this opportunity again, just like he said, as soon as they bring it to you say you know what? When will I get this opportunity again? Definitely Just do it. I went to Ghana and I also went to Cuba spent two weeks in Cuba. absolutely loved it. And that was when you know, our president at the time was doing some crazy stuff. My mom thought I wasn't gonna come back. I was like, Mom, I'm gonna be fine. But we came back and I absolutely loved both of those trips. So like she said, they present you the opportunity, please take it because you never know when you will have that type of traveling experience again, especially going with a group of Spelman sisters. I know it's one thing to travel on your own. But when you travel with a group of people who are also experienced some experiencing some of those same things for the first time, just like you are it's makes it a whole different experience and is really, really enjoyable. So definitely, if you get the chance, do the research. Definitely go try to go at least one time and like if you don't like the semesters, look into ci II that 14 days I'm telling you those two weeks is just enough time, I promise you definitely look into it.

Yeah, I

was gonna say like the same thing as IKEA. I came into Spelman with no passport. But I knew that I wanted to travel, I knew that that was something on my list that I had to check off. So I got to go to the Dominican Republic for two weeks, my sophomore year. And then I got to go to Greece, Athens, Greece for a month. And that was amazing. Both times, I learned something. And it's something that like, I will not take back for anything. It's just an experience that you just really have to you can't take it for granted. So if you get that opportunity, go for it. It's one in a million. Honestly.

Gabriel, go ahead.

So I did not do an international trip or domestic exchange. But what I did do is I took every opportunity to do internships in different cities while I was a student, my course load was packed because I was a transfer and I wanted to do, you know, success. I didn't do that. But also, I took a lot of club trips. So I was really involved on someone's campus and student leadership positions. And when any time there was like, we're going to Washington DC, we're going to St. Louis to do a rally. I was like, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go and so I literally went all across the United States based on being civically engaged and a leader at Spelman, as well as a baner. There were leadership opportunities in the scholarship program. So I was I was unbond in Congress. I did green for all Like when ben jones called Spelman College, the crown jewel of the world. So like yes, I would have loved to do international travel. But just with my schedule and my commitments with work I couldn't. But I did go to Cancun senior year spring break. So that would end I got my passport doing celmins beautiful passport fair in 2009. So take advantage of the passport there because I was literally the first person in my immediate family to have their passport and now my whole family has passport. And I've been to nine countries so

thank you know your the opportunities that filming provide, whether it be International, right or local, as Gabriel mentioned, internships, research opportunities, do anyone do research by any chance? know okay, but just research opportunities, right? So in the STEM, right psychology departments, those in particular there are a lot of opportunities there. I know for me, I was able to study abroad my junior year at Spelman, I went to Seoul, South Korea, and actually does my first time on the airplane. And I was really really nervous right but as my kids said, I was glad to be back on American soil real get through those 14 days was just enough. But even just scholarships, right like we're studying abroad through CIE they provide you have scholarships on a first come first serve basis to study abroad. I was looking to get one of those. And actually the remainder of my trip, one of my Spelman sisters mom's like volunteer to pay for the remainder of my trip and that that just really just speaks to the Spelman sisterhood. Right? And that really means so much, but Oh, yeah, that's amazing. Um, but I just really want to speak to the opportunities what internships or experience Have you all had while on Feldman's campus? Were you able to do? So I want to kick it off with you.

And, you know, one good thing, one of the many good things about Spelman is that Spelman ages well as a brand. That that that's my role to remind you of that today, for sure. So, I had an opportunity to do an internship at American Express, because I was a computer science major, and they came to Spelman specifically to recruit I mean, if companies are looking for high caliber, stellar, black women, for their corporations, I need you to know what the first stop is. Okay. So, companies, you know, highly recruited Spelman, if you particularly are in you know, technology areas, there are a lot of other majors Of course, and so many students are also going to Spelman to then go on to graduate school. But in my case, being in computer science and technology, I was looking to get a job right out of college because there was a thing called broke. And I needed to be working. And Spelman prepared me for that, because American Express had a program where they were looking specifically for young black women, seven women to bring them to Fort Lauderdale to supposedly prepare them for the real world again, and the real world men got our own car, we got our own apartment, we got a very competitive salary for the summer. That meant we drove to Miami every weekend to have a good time, we were wined and dined by the CEO, because again, that it was about their social consciousness and their corporate responsibility as a company, right. And so I had an opportunity to participate in that internship, which not only gave me kind of an opportunity not to be a broke college student for the summer, which is always good, right. But I got hands on experience for the industry that I remain in today. and years and years later. There were other black women working for American Express at the time, who wanted to nurture us and took us under their wing at the time, so it was a really, really good experience. And Spellman set that up. Right when companies are looking to partner with certain institutions, they're they're looking for their best investment to do that. So I got an opportunity for that. There was another opportunity in which they took maybe 30 women to New York over a weekend and pair them With other black women who happened to be working in the industry that they were pursuing, if you were interested in journalism, then you went to the New York Times and you spent the week they are with other women who look like you working in the journalism field. If you were in technology, they paired you with women at IBM, and you got to spend the week with them. So there were probably about 10 different majors represented. And we all got paired in cohorts with other women who looked like us. And again, I want to reiterate that that was because of the Spellman brand. That is what attracted the corporations and the research places and government agencies to even recruit at Spelman to offer these internships because again, the name and the brand age as well. And it remains very relevant.

Absolutely. Justice.

I feel like I want to lift up here the well program or the women of excellence leadership say yes, I will sisters on the call. Yeah, this is an internship experience of sorts, right? Right on Spelman campus, so shout out recipes to Dr. Janie Smith, one of my mentors or just make incredible phenomenal human being. But this program absolutely shapes everything you get a specimen is incredible. And it all builds on itself right. Something about well was really special and I got the chance to be a part of well in my senior year and the friendships that were fostered during that time the lessons learned I use a lot of the tips from the things I learned in well currently in my job today how I've navigated my career promotions, how I network with blacks whites whom ever in the room, I learned that right on spell Miss campus under the leadership of that Jamie Smith. And so I mean I can name so many phenomenal moments for well was the cherry on top for my filming experience.

I just want to jump in and Mike Hallelujah Amen corner that my signature red lip is an ode to the great Dr. Dane Smith. And yes, there are so many internships available but the Spelman programs are like no other I did them all. When I tell you that's why I didn't go out. Like I was literally in every single program if they had a career development day if the anything that Spelman was offering because they were bringing in the greats like literally you're sitting across if you were a Coca Cola, mentee you're like sitting across from like, the head of Coca Cola, and a lot of them are your Spelman sisters, right? Like a lot of these bosses, like look at the media industry right now like we are taking over TV, right? And so the internships and the programs at Spelman create there for us by us. And they're phenomenal. So when you get to that campus, get into a leadership position, because when you leave campus, you will learn that your colleagues were not well groomed, right like well taught us how to speak up in class like in an office and like be challenging and like not be afraid to input our ideas and our own thoughts. Like literally we know how to answer questions because Dr. Jamie Smith came up with a literal way to respond to questions so get all into the seven sisterhood when you get on that campus.

Mikey

really likes to call on y'all. I

don't know what I don't know what she's doing. But

as far as internships go, like my sister said Spelman

has it's all internships within itself. Every day on campus as an internship I used to tell my friends because you could be walking on campus and you don't know who's there like the CEO of a company is in the cab today and the superintendent of Atlanta public schools is in Giles and you're just like all of these people are everywhere. Because like my sister earlier says Spelman is its own brand. And people know if I want the best of the best of black women. I'm going to Spelman. As far as education goes, I am you know, a full advocate for education. I have never wanted to be anything but a teacher. From the moment I stepped on Spelman campus, I had programs that were putting me in classrooms getting me used to students in urban settings, exposing me to all different types of students in different areas of Atlanta. From my freshman year I was student teaching up until my senior year I will tell everybody, I was a full teacher, my senior You're I was in the classroom, every single day teaching alongside my co teachers, and it really prepared me to go into the school system and be a leader. That's another thing that Spelman teach you Spelman is its own internship because Spelman taught me to go into places where I was the first year teacher and everybody's looking at me like Girl, you seem like you've been doing this forever, because she's Spelman training. That's a Spelman taught me how to come in here and speak this way. Spelman taught me how to make sure that y'all know Yes, she's the baby teacher, but she got her classroom held down. That's literally how Spelman taught us to be Spelman teaches you those things that you need to go into any setting and be able to command a room. Because as black women, we know that our voices are often very silenced. And Spelman will literally tell you from day one, don't let that disturb you. That's not who we are. Here. We teach you to go into these spaces, where anybody can be anything but just make sure that your voices heard and I feel like Like I said, someone has his own internship every single day, no matter what classroom you go into, in the caf, somebody is going to be there to remind you, this is how you do this. This is how you speak this way to make you understand to get the things that you need from wherever you are. So

those are just some of my little stone gems.

Appreciate the nuggets. Thank you. Alright, so we count up on I'm gonna say about 10 minutes where I will have two more questions. I want to hear from everyone. What was your favorite tradition? Hey, you see y'all see the face? I'll see the face the jealousy the

way though, but without giving anything away?

Right.

I think well, I don't I of course, I don't know how it is with the pandemic. And because I said I I honestly don't even remember what I said at the last panel, but it always changes because I'm like, the whole four years. Like, can I can I say that? No. But um, okay, so the the thing I remember at this moment in time is when my parents, like, you know, we're all in the Quad or whatever that was called in front of Abby. Um, and, you know, you got to say goodbye to your parents. And it was so dramatic. And then we all went to a sister's chapel. And then there was like this, yes, this decision and also there's a this like, they basically it was like rep rep, rep where you're from. And so because I'm from Colorado, some people are like, Midwest, some people are like West Coast. And I'm like, y'all gonna let me choose where I want to be from okay. But I just represent the West Coast or whatever. But that was like such a cool experience of like, literally going from like, bawling my eyes out because my parents like I'm about to not live with them for the first time ever, to like partying and like repping where I'm from, and then seeing where everybody else is, right. I was like, This is so

cool.

So that was like, that's I don't know why that came up tonight came up right now. But that's like the that was like signature for freshman year. My favorite tradition is class day. All I can say is senior year, get ready for class day. I, literally last year was the first time I missed a class, they because of the pandemic and I was devastated. I love class, they I always I always come back to class day. So I can't wait for you all to experience it. That's all I can really say.

So my favorite tradition is the white dress tradition. And the white wear white tradition now that we have, you know, evolved and elevated. I love it. I love it because it connects us to our historical roots. And we just look good and why you know, and it's something about like being in the, you know, in the tradition and walking, but it's another thing when you come back and you're older, and you get to see your younger sisters like the first time I came back to campus, like to help a mentee graduate and like I was no longer a student watching them walk I literally was like my God, like, there is this like eternal like angelic heavenly experience. And it hits everybody at the same time because you're looking around me like why everybody crying like, you know, I just think it connects us to our historical heritage and I hope that it never goes away. I understand that things evolve and change. And I'm glad to see this film and always a sins with the times with that white with the white tradition. I'll have to echo that because I love that Spelman seeks to remain relevant, because you want your investment to still be relevant and pertinent, while still holding on to traditions that make such a big difference. So a tradition that I love your point Gabriel is, you know, HBCU homecomings, they, you know, it's not a game, right. And the season is amazing for HBCU homecomings. But reunion years, and homecoming as filming and getting to take part in class days and all of that and the white dresses, I'm telling you get ready for this emotional thing to happen that you did not know exist in your life that was that just a spiritual moment. Like, I didn't know I needed that. And I just not I have not found that I in my circle, there are a lot of other phenomenal HBCU women. So I've experienced some of their going back to their campuses, and it's just not the same. And the fact that Spelman has held on to that in those traditions of your reunion year making that special and taking your class picture and watching The Golden Girls and they're wide. And you know, you remember when you were thinking, are they really gonna make us wear white dress and like certain shoes and even pantyhose at the same time. And then you're like, I love it. Don't ever change. Don't stop because you know, it's just so great. And it's not just homecoming or reunion for us. It is a It's a tradition that you're going to be amazed about. It's nothing to compare to it.

Just

I know, I don't want to give mine away, but

okay.

My favorite one is a freshman we tradition that occurs in the chapel after a mid night awakening of things. So yeah, I don't want to give it away. But that's one of my favorite moments.

Okay,

so we have a one last question. Right? Um, if you all have one, recreate I know someone spoke about it earlier, if you all have one record, what would you say your biggest regret is? If

I can go first, um, I was kind of timid to like, get out of my shell and do stuff. And so they had like, the Why am I forgetting everything? Um, the freshmen teams that dance, the stress style teams, there we go. They have strong teams. And I was like, That looks so cool. Like, I really want to do it. I was a cheerleader in high school. So I get you know, I felt like I could figure it out. And then I realized you had to like, audition in the gym and all that in front of people. And I was like, Oh, see, that's not going to happen. So I never did it. And now I look back and I'm like, man, like what was the worst that could happen is I just didn't make the team like I wasn't going there was gonna kick me out of Spelman because I didn't make them you know, I'm like, I should have just did it. So that's why I said, um, I wish I would have done more. And I am very grateful for all the opportunities that I did have. Um, but definitely, if you want to, you know, get out of your comfort zone anywhere Spelman is the place to do it, because you're only going to have people to support you and help you. You might have sisters like, okay, we go learn this dance. So you can you know, be bombed at this. I did audition tomorrow, like, do whatever it is that where you're like, I don't know if I want to do it. But I will say after Spelman, I have not let us turn down anything. I'm like, I'm gonna do I'm gonna go do it. And, you know, the opportunities are endless, but definitely, you know, get out of your comfort zone, just Just do it. Alright, we

have one more minute, I want to hear just one thing from each of you really quick before we pass it on the two hour break. And as a morning, you're off you go here, I said,

I would have monitored in something I really wanted to. But I was like, Oh, I'm trying to do all this other stuff. I don't have time I had time. I was just scared. And I would do it again. Because see and hear everyone else talk about all their different majors and all different stuff. They got the experience. I wish I had done that, especially knowing that where I am now, it would be really, really helpful to have that additional, like, engagement and knowledge and that cross learning and all those things will be really helpful for what I'm trying to do now. So I will I would have minor in something like sociology or anthropology or comparative Women's Studies. I was really, really interested in that and I didn't go for it. I would go for it. Don't second guess yourself. Just go for it.

Thank you, Andrew.

You're on mute.

One time I went on mute, sorry about that, get involved. And I had a very rigorous curriculum, and I let that be my excuse for not being as involved, because I spent a lot of my life in the in computer labs, but be a part of the decisions that are being made at the school. And there's a way to do that through student leadership. And that's going to be such a great compliment to regardless of what your field is your your chosen path, because leadership is always going to be a dynamic of no matter what you decide to do. So honing those skills on campus, when you're in a nurturing environment. And also just being involved in a part of the decision making and saying how you want the campus life and student life to be, it's going to be multi beneficial. So it's going to help you later it's going to make a difference while you're there. It's kind of prepare you. So I would have done definitely more of that. Don't make that mistake.

All right, so we want to go ahead and wrap things up. So thank you all for joining us today. I'm going to pass things to miss Christy Johnson.

Listen, I want to thank you all this has been an amazing conversation. I have learned so much and as a spell mom because my daughter is in her second year. at Spelman, I can vouch for every single thing that I heard here today. The amazing opportunities, I tell people all the time that I could see a difference in my daughter. From the time we dropped her off and that emotional parting ceremony that Shani was describing, but when we dropped her off, and yes, I'm 20 minutes away. And yes, I work on campus, but I recruit all the time. But when she came home for Thanksgiving, I was like I I almost didn't recognize her by her conversation. And it is all really due to the community at Spelman. So I hope everyone enjoyed this conversation. This was an amazing panel. I'm so thankful to our lummi near and far because anytime that we are out traveling on the road, they are our second family as well. They are always waiting with open arms for to welcome our new classes coming in from their respective areas. So please, please, please keep in touch, it's always great to see you. So now we're going to start trying to get our wrap up together. You all again have tuned into sisterhood beyond the gates, I do want to remind you all that you can definitely you will be able to access all of these recordings and things of the sort by the end of this week. So definitely continue to explore the site at your leisure. To learn more about current students, faculty and all that awaits you inside of the gates at Spelman College. I want to just encourage you all as you are making your final decisions because decision day is come national decision Day is coming up on May 1. But it is our hope that you would find yourself inside of the gates of Spelman. Again, all of these wonderful alumni plus the 200 and 1000. Others are waiting to welcome you and so the sisterhood into the fold. And it is an amazing place to be I often that is my one true regret. As I have been working on this campus. As soon as I stepped foot on this campus for my interview, I'm just like, oh my goodness, I missed the whole entire train. Where was I? Where was my mind like I was not thinking. But it has been an amazing three days you all have continued. Going through the journey. We started out we were embracing we wanted to embrace you and to this into the fold. You want you to embrace each other. The second day, it was all about empowerment, we want to continue to empower you. And today was all about excelling beyond the gates excelling beyond where you are right now. I know that COVID has brought on a lot of anxiety across the board. But we hope that these last three days with us have really helped you to really get a feel for what the true Spellman connection is. So now without further ado, I think I want to turn it over to miss Sydney because she has some last minute remarks for us. Thank you, Miss Johnson and thank you to all of the alumni that spoke today. You guys were wonderful, absolutely incredible. It's always nice to see everyone's faces. What a wonderful event that was. I cannot believe it's over already. I know I had a blast. Did you guys enjoy yourselves? Let me know in the chat. Jobson blue hearts y'all go missing? I see someone said they go miss me, me, y'all. Okay, blue hearts. All right. All right. Well at this time we have reached the part of the story where I must pass you the pencil. I really enjoyed doing DIY projects and seeing your moves on Sunday. I am glad you got an opportunity to chat further with admissions and financial aid teams about the proper steps to secure your spot at Spelman College yesterday. And I hope you all love the experience of sitting in on classes and chatting with some of some of our phenomenal alumni. If you are interested in depositing after the conclusion of this event, please return to your admissions guide for steps on how to do so. Remember depositing confirms your spot in the sisterhood but the fund does not stop here. Follow us on social media to continue interacting with our current students through takeovers where you can learn more about Spelman College. Also be sure to check out our brand new virtual tour