Around this time last year myself
and a number of my peers were decked out in our caps and gowns completing one
season of our lives and stepping into another. I can’t believe it’s already
been about a year since that time. My journey through college wasn’t an easy
one, but I did it – I earned my B.A. in English. My degree arrived in the mail
about a month later. Holding it in my hands was nice, and for a long time, I
thought it would complete me. I
quickly learned how silly it was to think such a thing. It’s even stranger to
hear different college students claim that they’ll feel “complete” with a
degree. Know this – a college degree is just a piece to an enormous puzzle in
this thing called life. It’s a major accomplishment, but I promise you’ll do
bigger and better things in this life. Especially if you’re one of those people
who intends to leave your mark on this world. I’m blessed to have a degree, but
a degree only has the value people put on it. I know what some of you might be
thinking. “Easy for her to say, she’s already got her degree.” And while I do
have a B.A. in English that remains framed and on my wall, and while I’m also grateful,
employed, and legit enjoy what I do for a living, I went through a roller
coaster ride of challenges to complete my studies. Especially my senior year.
It was a huge time of transition for me academically, spiritually, and
emotionally. When I read through some old journal entries and go through
different photos from that time, I still can’t believe I made it through that
season. A lot can happen in a year. I don’t even feel like the girl I was a
year ago and hardly relate to her much these days. After college and even
during, everything changes. You do. The people around you do, and you learn to
adapt and adjust as you, your circumstances, and everything connected to you
changes. Life after college can and will teach you much more than anything
you’d ever learn in a classroom or textbook. That’s a certainty you can count
on. But you’ll be okay. I’m still navigating life after college myself, and so
far, things are okay. If you’re a senior graduating this year, I’m keeping you
lifted in prayer and hope you take the time to celebrate. Enjoy yourself and
have an incredible summer. Because after the party is over, the tides of change,
uncertainty, heartbreak, disappointment, frustration, blessings, growth, and excitement
will be waiting to greet you the moment you cross the stage, so grab your
surfboard and get ready. The surf will have plenty of highs and lows. But ride
the waves. You totally got this. Congratulations to each and every one of you.
I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...