Hey guys!!

I know I’ve been majorly A-Wall and haven’t posted since last year, but that is what tends to happen when you are overwhelmed by finals, research and work.  I think it’s time to catch you all up on the opportunities that I have strove for in my absence from blogging and my next blog will be my personal tips on how to successfully present yourself in an interview and hacks on how to avoid feeling like a fish out of water.

First, let me update you all on how I ended my first semester at my beloved UNC. I am in good standing which means…I did not screw up. LOL. Dark humor, my bad. I did pretty well for having a full load of classes and it being my first semester here. For all of you interested in how I did academically or grade wise–here is how I ended up. I got 2 A’s, 3 B’s and a C+. Yes, I too am furious with that C+ but I will work to not receive that grade ever again in my time at Carolina.

I probably have not updated you guys on the job positions I have applied for. I applied to work under the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at UNC for two jobs: Project Uplift Resident Counselor and North Carolina Renaissance Counselor. I first have to announce that I got both positions and am absolutely overwhelmed with joy and ecstatic to make a difference in the lives of upcoming generations.

Project Uplift if a program that I myself applied and attended as a junior in high school and the reason I fell in love with the UNC to begin with. It is a college access program that exposes you to information on financial aid and programs exclusive to UNC, study abroad, academic and social life as well as resident or dorm life aka slipping in the halls on the way back from your shower. Just kidding–not really because that actually happened to me during Project Uplift.

One of my favorite things about the program is that you make lifelong friendships–or at least the opportunity to do so is presented and handed to you on a silver platter. I say this because at the beginning of the year I connected with an old friend from my PU week and we hung out for a majority of first semester. It made a difference in my life and I want to return the favor to those younger than myself. This desire led me to apply for the Resident Counselor position and I am absolutely grateful to have gotten the position. Just a reminder that #PUNeverStops

I also applied for NCR and got the position as a counselor and am absolutely ecstatic to be able to bring my charisma into the lives of these high school students and hopefully influence their lives in a positive manner. This program is specifically for those that live in rural areas and may not necessarily be exposed to opportunities that others in urban or suburban kids have access to.

This program hits home because of the size of the group I will be working with. This is an intimate program and is similar to my lovely Elon Academy. You can view a previous post of mine on info about Elon Academy–a similar but longer program accessible to Alamance County high school, specifically freshman students. EA is intimate because you spend a month on Elon University’s campus and get close to about 70 other students of different ages. However, NCR is even tightly woven and more intimate than 70 students allowing us to make and have a more drastic effect on the lives of the teenagers who attend.

Lastly, I have applied to be a counselor for Summer Bridge. If you all remember, my first post has a picture of Summer Bridge 2015 a program I feel I can really make a difference in as well. Hopefully, I hear back soon and I hope to have the chance to make a difference with incoming first-years and offer endless support to students during their journey at Carolina. We all can leave our heel print.

If you all have not noticed yet, a passion of mine is helping people attain a college degree. It is something that my parents could not attain due to various circumstances and a privilege I am currently working diligently towards. My brother was the first in my immediate family to gain a college degree and it made me both my parents and myself proud, as parents and a sister of a college graduate. This is a big deal in a family who just had the first person ever graduate with a higher level education.

Many people, minorities especially, are at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining a higher education. Not only are there usually a limited amount of resources at their disposal in terms of academic rigor at their high schools but they are also financially at a disadvantage. I can write an entire blog on this issue considering their are people in the United States who believe that these are not issues when it comes to gaining a higher level education.

I must make one comment to those who think that free college tuition should not become a reality. Yes, working hard can allow a student to go to college with scholarships but if you come from a high school that does not offer many AP course of any I.B. courses, it is extremely difficult to compete for ACADEMIC scholarships with those students who do have access to that academic rigor. How do you expect people to rise out of their situation if they are systematically oppressed? Give that a thought and if it provoked enough of a spark, either for my statement or against, leave a comment and we can have a discussion about it.

Now, to catch you guys up on my current semester. I am taking 14 credit hours consisting of the following classes: Medical Anthropology–Global Health, Global Issues, Biology 101, Biology 101 Lab, Chem 102 Lab, and Psychology 101. I must also mention that it is nice to take a breather from Chemistry’s because they do not lie in my strong suits whatsoever. I absolutely love both of my globally centered classes because they lie in the middle of my my interest and passions. My psychology class is surprisingly way more interesting that my online psych class I took in high school and Biology is treating me well. Biology is greater than Chemistry on any given day. Personally, I find it more interesting and more applicable in terms of my interest.

Those have been my achievements and if you want to hear my tips for interviews stay tuned for my next blog post coming either tomorrow or or the following day. Also, just a personal tip, avoid burning your finger with a straighter–it really hurts. I also would like to announce that I plan on starting a YouTube channel over the summer with hopes that I can offer more tips and personally connect with you guys. This channel will more than likely include an array of content ranging from silly challenges completed with my best friend and I, make-up videos, my above struggle learning how to curl my hair with a straightener and many other subjects. Please stay tuned and if you have any ideas on channel names–please send me a personal message from my contact page.

 

Thanks so much to any of you who bothered to read my entire post. It feels nice to be back and I hope you all are glad for my return as well. Keep it classy and remember:

Be strong, Stay safe and First do no harm.