Growing up in a single-parent household and as an only child wasn’t easy for me, neither was moving around, but yet I still managed to enjoy my childhood and teenage years. Attending college never even crossed my mind until my junior year of high school when my mom signed me up for a college tour. She wanted to make sure I went to college. To allow me to have greater opportunity that college would provided.
Touring for a Greatness
So I went on the college tour with my cousin and visited different HBCU’S. Such as Virginia State University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Livingston College, Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Johnson C. Smith University, and Shaw University. Some of the schools had very nice campuses and programs, but there was only one school that stood out to me, and that was North Carolina A&T State University.
My Forever Home
Once I stepped foot on campus, I just instantly felt comfortable and at home, we even dined in the cafeteria which, was a great way for me to experience college food. I knew this was the school I wanted to apply for and attend. I never heard of the school before, but wanted to know as much as I could about the University.
I returned home and told my mom about the tour and the different colleges and told her how much I wanted to attend NC A&T SU; she could see how excited I was. The end of my junior year, that summer for two weeks straight we worked on college applications, getting financial aid, and applying for scholarships.
I went away on a basketball trip and got a call from my mother saying she couldn’t wait until I got back home and let me know that I got accepted into NC A&T State University. All my friends were so excited and happy for me. I was ecstatic.
NCAT Orientation
I went to freshmen orientation the next summer after my senior year and didn’t know what to expect. We learned how to register for classes, got our Aggie One care Id, and picked our meal plan. The day before leaving, they had a mini gym jam on campus, and that was my first time seeing or experiencing Greek life.
I knew nothing and never heard of Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Iota Phi Theta, which someone told me are the divine nine and the most prestigious organizations on campus.
I was stunned and shocked and mesmerized when I saw them step and stroll for the first time. At the time no one in my family was in a Greek Organization that I knew of until later on, I found out that my stepdad was a member of Omega Psi Phi, and my aunt was a Delta. I just knew I chose the right school from then on.
The start of Legacy
My first day as college freshmen came Aug 17, 2005, and I remember because every year school starts on my mom’s birthday. I stayed in Aggie Village and had a roommate who was quiet and shy like I was. We became good friends and did some things together, but we mostly just stayed in the room.
I became homesick by the 2nd week because I never been away from my mom this long, but it took the ease off because she would call daily and she would send me weekly letters which I still have to this day.
The first event I attended on campus was the Welcome Back Cookout. There I got to see how college life was like and how great of a University NC A&T SU was. I enjoyed the football games and attended the band brawl against Norfolk State, which gave me a taste of how the band was and they blew my mind.
There I found a group of students wearing Aggie paraphernalia (Mascot) and I sat with them, come to know they were an organization called Aggie Livewires which was a pep squad for the school, and that is how I became a part of that wonderful organization and broke out of my quiet shell. I made a lot of new friends and became a more outgoing person.
We like to Party…But we hard too
Before attending NC A&T, I was told it was a party school and that I wouldn’t get work done. I had to experience and see for myself if it was true. How you live your college life is your choice, you can either be the studious type or the outgoing party all the time type.
I believe I was in the middle. Mon-Friday I was ‘all work & no play’, unless there was an event on campus then I would attend that. On weekends depending on what it was I would go out and enjoy myself with friends.
It’s HOMECOMING Y’all
No one warned me about NC A&T Homecoming. I experienced what it was like first had to attend an HBCU Homecoming, and when I tell you, people, to come near and far, that is an understatement.
The stadium for the football game was over packed that tickets run out. There are concerts for alumni and the students, a step show, day parties, all night parties; people don’t sleep when it’s homecoming time. I can say it truly is the Greatest Homecoming on Earth.
One degree down
The workload in college was so much harder and stressful, I was always good at getting my work done, but I didn’t realize how much of a workload I would have.
I made dean’s list three years of my undergrad college career and finished and Graduated from the University May 9, 2009, with honors Cum Laude and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a concentration in Broadcast Production.
I am very proud of myself and everything I have accomplished. I remember being told my junior year from my guidance counselor that I should wait to go to a major university and start off going to community college and then transfer.
My mom looked at him and then looked at me and knew she was getting me into a University without QUESTION, and this is exactly what she did. I thank her for this day for believing me and pushing me to strive to be the best I can be.
MASTERS
After graduating I didn’t know what I wanted to do honestly, it was either apply for a million jobs, move back home, or go to graduate school. By that time, I was tired of school, but I knew I had to make a decision soon.
So without my mother’s help, I applied for Graduate school at NC A&T for the Spring of 2010, and I was accepted into their Graphic Communications program. It was a 2-year program and didn’t require any testing to get in which for me was a blessing. The workload was a little harder, but I had colleagues in my classes that were able to help me.
I’m an overcomer
I have overcome many obstacles in my college life, but none could equate to when my professor gave me a bad grade, and I wasn’t able to login to do the final exam because Blackboard was down. I emailed him and told him the situation, but he wasn’t going to reopen the test for me and that my grade would be base on quizzes, projects, and the tests already taken.
I ended up having to file a grade appeal. My mom came down; we met with the board. I retold my story, and they then heard the professor’s story, after a month of this they change my grade to an incomplete, I finally was able to retake the test, and received a B as my final grade. My mom was ecstatic that I achieved all that and pushed without her doing it herself. She saw the fight in me to make sure I stayed in school and got the grade I deserved.
The walk before the 1st Lady.
I graduated from NC A&T SU MAY 12, 2012 with a Master’s in Graphic Communications. Mrs. Michelle Obama was the commencement speaker at my graduation that year, and I was very honored and privileged to be in her presence and have her speak at my graduation. It brought me to tears to see how far I have come in life and know that anything is possible.
Role Model Status
I have cousins who look up to me and want to attend college and get their degree and have their dream job. I am just blessed to have had the opportunity to have attended an HBCU, let alone the Illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Attending this University has changed my life because I am no longer that shy girl coming out of high school, I am more driven and a believer and witness to fighting for what you want. I speak my mind, and I can be professional and conduct business when need be.
I learned what it takes to work hard and get to where you want to go in life. I learned that it was okay to be afraid and not know all the answers but to use your resources to help you figure things out. I also learned that networking is the greatest thing and knowing and meeting different people along the way in your college life is a great way to help you start your future goals and career path.
I learned what it takes to work hard and get to where you want to go in life. I learned that it was okay to be afraid and not know all the answers but to use your resources to help you figure things out. I also learned that networking is the greatest thing and knowing and meeting different people along the way in your college life is a great way to help you start your future goals and career path.
Attending an HBCU was the best decision I ever made, and I look back on all the memories and sometimes want to relive those college days. I am very thankful and blessed to have had this experience in my life, and I want my children to have this experience as well. AGGIE PRIDE (Achieving Great Goals In Everything Producing Renowned Individuals Dedicated to Excellence) will always be with me. IT TRULY IS NATION WIDE! I will forever love my ALMA MATER.
Read other #HBCUFriday Grad Tia McNeill story: “HBCU EXPERIENCE.”