I am merely a sum of our life experiences; they are the layers of my being. The things I see, do and experience make me who I am. They also dictate who I want to be. The morals and values that I have, makes me who I am in this very moment. They led me to my interest in education and the educating of the marginalized.
I was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Church was my life all the activities I ever did were centered around the church. The best part about being a part of this church is the focus they placed on education. Even though there was major emphasis on education in my life, I graduated high school without being accepted to college or even having any prospects for what career I would enter. My parents never forced me to do more than I wanted to in my education, however they would consistently tell me in a firm, yet loving way the importance of getting a college degree. They wanted me to gain the desire on my own. My parents are not college educated and I witnessed …show more content…
Oakwood University has the distinction of being the only Seventh-day Adventist HBCU. It was founded in 1896, has a legacy of educating people of color, a legacy of excellence. The years I have spent at Oakwood University have been years of growth and enlightenment. I am receiving an education second to none. I have had the opportunity to represent the school in many facets and to display black excellence on a national level. Intelligent and driven people of color surround me. I have people who I can look to for encouragement and direction. People, who look like me, people who show tangible evidence of black excellence. An HBCU education is invaluable in the production of successful black professionals and I will be a product of Oakwood University. The rhetoric of society suggests that excellence cannot be found within the black community. This is completely false and I see daily the rebuttal to that
I was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Church was my life all the activities I ever did were centered around the church. The best part about being a part of this church is the focus they placed on education. Even though there was major emphasis on education in my life, I graduated high school without being accepted to college or even having any prospects for what career I would enter. My parents never forced me to do more than I wanted to in my education, however they would consistently tell me in a firm, yet loving way the importance of getting a college degree. They wanted me to gain the desire on my own. My parents are not college educated and I witnessed …show more content…
Oakwood University has the distinction of being the only Seventh-day Adventist HBCU. It was founded in 1896, has a legacy of educating people of color, a legacy of excellence. The years I have spent at Oakwood University have been years of growth and enlightenment. I am receiving an education second to none. I have had the opportunity to represent the school in many facets and to display black excellence on a national level. Intelligent and driven people of color surround me. I have people who I can look to for encouragement and direction. People, who look like me, people who show tangible evidence of black excellence. An HBCU education is invaluable in the production of successful black professionals and I will be a product of Oakwood University. The rhetoric of society suggests that excellence cannot be found within the black community. This is completely false and I see daily the rebuttal to that