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HBCU Homecoming Rules + Playlist

It’s HBCU Homecoming Season! The time of year when historically black college and university alumni from across the country come together to fellowship for the biggest friends and family reunion football game of the season.

I can already smell the food on the grill, see the hugs, hear the band, and see the pageant waves from the homecoming queen and the royal court during the parade, but before you make your homecoming plans here are a few rules for alums:

HBCU Homecoming Rules Tik Tok

1. Pace yourself! You’re not 21 anymore.

2. Don’t go uninvited to people’s personal tents and eat their food and drink their drinks when you haven’t been invited to do so or didn’t contribute.

3. Have a place to stay or get a hotel room.

4.Have fun! This is not about work or your career right now.

5. Drink some water and stay hydrated and know your limit.

6. Stretch before you go to the party, so you won’t have to utilize an Icy Hot patch the next day after strolling, droppin’ it too low, or dancing too hard.

7. Take pictures and make new memories. However be aware that you have a job-career now, so be cautious of what you upload to social media or update your “privacy” settings or “close friends” list.

8. Do NOT act like you’re single when you are not!

9. We remember you Before the degrees and titles and also how you treated folks years ago. As Dr. Maya Angelou said, “People may forget what you said or did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel” remember that and act accordingly.

10. Get tickets for different events you and your crew plan on going to and have cash for various vendors.

11. Have a portable cell phone charger.

12. Wear comfortable shoes at the tailgate and walking on campus

13. Do NOT pretend like you were a student at that school when you weren’t.

14. Think about a weather friendly hairstyle. Example: You just got your hair pressed and it’s gonna be humid or cloudy out, so plan accordingly.

15. Last, but certainly not least don’t forget to contribute your time, money, and resources back to your HBCU to impart into future generations.

Follow me on Twitter: @asiamber and let me know what HBCU you represent in the comments below!

Apple Music Playlist

Tidal Playlist

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From Disappointments to Destinations

Ever since I was a young child I’ve been inquisitive about various cultures, writing, music, and different viewpoints on life. I started traveling abroad in college during my Senior year at Fort Valley State University, where I graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications.  I remember during my Junior year of college walking across campus one day and seeing flyers for an all expense paid Study Abroad program to China. So, I got a passport and applied for the program. The semester was coming to an end, but I didn’t hear anything about the study abroad program for a while. I mean for weeks I wondered in anticipation and thought that God had forgotten about me. I questioned my worth and if I was good enough to be selected. I figured the study abroad program already picked who they wanted for the program. In addition to wondering when and if I would be selected I was still trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life after college. I had applied for an internship in another state and was excited about it only to find out that out of all the applicants I was not selected. Even with my 3.5 GPA, prior internship experience, and extracurricular activities I still wasn’t considered “good enough”. I felt so hurt and let down. Rejection sucks, but it’s sometimes a part of life or if you believe in God his plan for your life. So here I am a rising Senior in college with no plans after school was over and going through other life challenges and growing pains. I remember crying and just feeling really down and that’s when I got a phone call from my Spanish professor, Mrs. Dubriel.

I wondered why out of all people she was calling me, especially since I was not the best Spanish student and got a C in her class. Well, little did I know that Mrs. Dubriel was now over the study abroad program. She called to tell me that the Study Abroad program was not going to China anymore. I felt devastated and thought well there goes another rejection for the week, but then her next sentence literally brightened my day. Mrs. Dubriel said, “Instead of going to China, we have selected the country of Italy and are you interested in going because the person we originally selected can’t go anymore?” I said, YES MAM and we talked about all the travel details. As soon as I got off the phone I literally cried and ran around the room like I was at a church revival meeting. LOL! Here I was thinking that I would get my hopes up and I was selected by my alma mater’s Stanley E. Rutland Globetrotters Study Abroad program to travel for free to various Italian cities during the month of September 2012.

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Going to Italy changed my life for the better and I am forever grateful. It gave me the travel bug and inspired me to travel more. So, after I graduated and started working in “the real world” I researched various” affordable” travel groups for young people and heard about the travel group for young adults called, EF Ultimate Break while listening to Spotify. Check them out on www.efultimatebreak.com During September of 2015 I went with EF Ultimate Break to London and Paris, and in July of 2016 I went to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, Greece. I think that EF Ultimate Break is the best way to travel for young adults ages 18-29 because everything is taken care of from your flights, food, and transportation and you don’t have to pay all at once. They can break the cost down into monthly payment plans. Also, Go Ahead Tours for adults 29 and above is similar to EF Ultimate Break. All you have to have is a passport and an open mind.  There is nothing like traveling. It’s like once you start you cannot stop. I don’t know where I want to go next, but I am happy that I’ve had the privilege to travel and meet various people in my life’s journey.

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College Tips for Freshman Year

I graduated from a small predominately white high school in 2009 and graduated from a historically black college, Fort Valley State University, in 2013. These two totally different school experiences have shaped who I am as a person and I wouldn’t be who I am without them. As a former college student leader I wanted to share some tips for new students; especially first generation college students to give them some guidance.

Here’s a picture of some of my classmates and I at graduation in 2013. I am standing up on the far right/end.

ADVICE FOR FRESHMAN YEAR:
1. Establish rules and communicate early on with your roommate(s). Y’all don’t have to be best friends, but you live together now so respect people’s things and have boundaries.
2. Please be yourself and talk to people you don’t already know.
3. If you’re feeling down and need someone to talk to go seek out your university’s infirmary and seek free counseling if available.
4. I know it’s a new environment, but try not to go home every weekend and try not to stay in your dorm all day.
5. If you have a car make sure to get a parking decal asap!
6. If you have a car make sure you’re not being used by others who won’t even give you gas money or say thank you for giving them a ride.
7. There’s pros and cons to everything. In my opinion if you’re not a morning person don’t take an 8 A.M. class or maybe you are a morning person, so take the class and get it over with and have the rest of the day to yourself.
8. Check out websites like Chegg and Google other book rental sites before going to the bookstore.
9. When dealing with advisors, professors, financial aid, etc. make a copy of everything they give you. Keep your receipts and emails!
10. Figure out what campus activities or clubs fit your personality.
11. If you are interested in a historically black fraternity or sorority do not tell everybody. Focus on your grades and community service.
12. Be careful about what you post on social media. There is life after college and future employers look at that.
13. If you have an online class or have to upload an assignment online upload it early because sometimes depending on where you are or what time of day it is the WiFi won’t be as strong.
14. If you don’t understand something or need extra help seek out a tutor and go to your professor during their office hours to ask questions or get clarity on something you didn’t understand during the lecture.
15. Try to call or text your parent(s) at least once every few weeks and not only when you need or want something.
16. Focus on your required classes before permanently choosing a major. So if you choose to change majors you won’t lose so many credits.
17. Talk to your academic advisor. This person is vital in helping you know what classes you need to take in order to graduate on time.
18. Go to class and try your best to sit up front and take notes.
19. Get a part time job. It’s nice to have money in your pockets and good to have work experience.
20. Take advantage of free things your campus may offer.
21. Invest in a good umbrella and get some rain boots because when it rains on campus at FVSU it poured down!
22. I know the cafeteria has various food options, but try to eat healthy when you can. Don’t forget to try to get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night.
23. Get involved in the community and city your college is in.
24. Go to the library and study there.

25. Study Hard, but Play Hard. Enjoy your college years and cherish the moments!

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HBCU Homecoming Rules

It’s HBCU Homecoming Season! The time of year when historically black college and university alumni from across the country come together to fellowship for the biggest friends and family reunion football game of the season.

I can already smell the food on the grill, see the hugs, hear the band, and see the pageant waves from the homecoming queen and the royal court during the parade, but before you make your homecoming plans here are a few rules for alums:

1. Plan to use your vacation day(s) or plan to be off work so that you can enjoy yourself and recover from the weekend. You aren’t 21 anymore.

2. Have a place to stay or get a hotel room.

3. Wear comfortable shoes at the tailgate.

4. Drink some water and stay hydrated and know your limits.

5. Stretch before you go to the party, so you won’t have to utilize an Icy Hot patch the next day after strolling or dancing too hard.

6. Have a designated driver or use Uber.

7. Take pictures and make new memories. However be aware that you have a job-career now, so be cautious of what you upload to social media or update your “privacy” settings.

8. We remember you before the degrees and titles and also how you treated folks years ago. As Dr. Maya Angelou said, “People may forget what you said or did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel” remember that and act accordingly.

9. Get tickets for different events and have cash for various vendors.

10. Have a portable cell phone charger.

11. Network and talk to your peers face-to-face and exchange contact information.

12. Last but certainly not least, have fun, and don’t forget to contribute your time, money, and resources back to your HBCU to impart into future generations.

Follow me on Twitter: @asiamber and let me know what HBCU you represent in the comments below!

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Homecoming Thoughts