according to some reviews Princeton is one of the most beautiful campuses in
one of the most beautiful campuses in
one of the most beautiful campuses in America just take one look at the
America just take one look at the
America just take one look at the brochures and you’ll see it you see
brochures and you’ll see it you see
brochures and you’ll see it you see smiling students laying nonchalantly on
smiling students laying nonchalantly on
smiling students laying nonchalantly on the perfectly manicured Princeton grass
the perfectly manicured Princeton grass
the perfectly manicured Princeton grass you’ll see them playing hacky sack
you’ll see them playing hacky sack
you’ll see them playing hacky sack reading a book or laughing
reading a book or laughing
reading a book or laughing uncontrollably with friends you’ll see
uncontrollably with friends you’ll see
uncontrollably with friends you’ll see students with a range of complexions and
students with a range of complexions and
students with a range of complexions and ethnicities sitting and discussing
ethnicities sitting and discussing
ethnicities sitting and discussing scholarly texts in front of ivy-covered
scholarly texts in front of ivy-covered
scholarly texts in front of ivy-covered Harry Potter like buildings these images
Harry Potter like buildings these images
Harry Potter like buildings these images jump off the page successfully learning
jump off the page successfully learning
jump off the page successfully learning hopeful intelligent students like myself
hopeful intelligent students like myself
hopeful intelligent students like myself it was my desire to be on this campus
it was my desire to be on this campus
it was my desire to be on this campus that caused me to stay up long past
that caused me to stay up long past
that caused me to stay up long past midnight during late night study
midnight during late night study
midnight during late night study sessions and energized me for 5:30 a.m.
sessions and energized me for 5:30 a.m.
sessions and energized me for 5:30 a.m. waking times and then the moment of
waking times and then the moment of
waking times and then the moment of reckoning came I received an email with
reckoning came I received an email with
reckoning came I received an email with the Princeton tiger in his header I read
the Princeton tiger in his header I read
the Princeton tiger in his header I read further and it said congratulations
further and it said congratulations
further and it said congratulations I didn’t know what to do so I awkward
I didn’t know what to do so I awkward
I didn’t know what to do so I awkward Liam gleefully jumped up from my
Liam gleefully jumped up from my
Liam gleefully jumped up from my family’s computer in the den and darted
family’s computer in the den and darted
family’s computer in the den and darted up into my room and an adrenalin rush of
up into my room and an adrenalin rush of
up into my room and an adrenalin rush of excitement and disbelief if you had seen
excitement and disbelief if you had seen
excitement and disbelief if you had seen me you would have thought that the tiger
me you would have thought that the tiger
me you would have thought that the tiger had jumped out of the page when I
had jumped out of the page when I
had jumped out of the page when I clicked open several weeks later
clicked open several weeks later
clicked open several weeks later Princeton’s admissions office sent me a
Princeton’s admissions office sent me a
Princeton’s admissions office sent me a plane ticket to come and visit when I
plane ticket to come and visit when I
plane ticket to come and visit when I first saw the lovely spring blossoms in
first saw the lovely spring blossoms in
first saw the lovely spring blossoms in the beautiful architecture for the first
the beautiful architecture for the first
the beautiful architecture for the first time I was in awe and I thought I had
time I was in awe and I thought I had
time I was in awe and I thought I had won a lottery ticket I fell in love with
won a lottery ticket I fell in love with
won a lottery ticket I fell in love with the three underground floors and for
the three underground floors and for
the three underground floors and for above-ground floors a firestone library
above-ground floors a firestone library
above-ground floors a firestone library and all of his books that had been in
and all of his books that had been in
and all of his books that had been in circulation since the 1800s and while I
circulation since the 1800s and while I
circulation since the 1800s and while I was on this visit I didn’t really think
was on this visit I didn’t really think
was on this visit I didn’t really think to ask about campus diversity now I’m
to ask about campus diversity now I’m
to ask about campus diversity now I’m clearly aware of my race and gender and
clearly aware of my race and gender and
clearly aware of my race and gender and I know that racism is a problem but at
I know that racism is a problem but at
I know that racism is a problem but at that time race was not something I
that time race was not something I
that time race was not something I thought about that much I was
thought about that much I was
thought about that much I was straight-a student with dreams of
straight-a student with dreams of
straight-a student with dreams of becoming a medical journalist and a
becoming a medical journalist and a
becoming a medical journalist and a surgeon I went to a majority white high
surgeon I went to a majority white high
surgeon I went to a majority white high school in upstate New York and I had
school in upstate New York and I had
school in upstate New York and I had white friends and while at times I felt
white friends and while at times I felt
white friends and while at times I felt awkward because I couldn’t fully relate
awkward because I couldn’t fully relate
awkward because I couldn’t fully relate to their experiences for the most part
to their experiences for the most part
to their experiences for the most part we got along but at Princeton it was
we got along but at Princeton it was
we got along but at Princeton it was quite a different story
quite a different story
quite a different story it all started during my freshman year I
it all started during my freshman year I
it all started during my freshman year I received my first D ever it was in
received my first D ever it was in
received my first D ever it was in chemistry not at that time my high
chemistry not at that time my high
chemistry not at that time my high school didn’t have an Honors Chemistry
school didn’t have an Honors Chemistry
school didn’t have an Honors Chemistry class and so I didn’t know the amount of
class and so I didn’t know the amount of
class and so I didn’t know the amount of preparation that would be necessary to
preparation that would be necessary to
preparation that would be necessary to do well in a college-level science
do well in a college-level science
do well in a college-level science course so you can imagine I was ashamed
course so you can imagine I was ashamed
course so you can imagine I was ashamed and devastated when I received my first
and devastated when I received my first
and devastated when I received my first semester grades but wait that’s not all
semester grades but wait that’s not all
semester grades but wait that’s not all Caribbean connection and Black Student
Caribbean connection and Black Student
Caribbean connection and Black Student Union hosted a party that semester they
Union hosted a party that semester they
Union hosted a party that semester they invited students from surrounding New
invited students from surrounding New
invited students from surrounding New Jersey colleges during that party a
Jersey colleges during that party a
Jersey colleges during that party a fight broke out between some non
fight broke out between some non
fight broke out between some non Princeton students police descended on
Princeton students police descended on
Princeton students police descended on the scene and sprayed pepper spray
the scene and sprayed pepper spray
the scene and sprayed pepper spray indiscriminately and chaos ensued The
indiscriminately and chaos ensued The
indiscriminately and chaos ensued The Daily Princetonian later covered the
Daily Princetonian later covered the
Daily Princetonian later covered the story when I read the comment section
story when I read the comment section
story when I read the comment section and here’s some advice never read the
and here’s some advice never read the
and here’s some advice never read the comment section online my spirit was
comment section online my spirit was
comment section online my spirit was crushed comments like black students
crushed comments like black students
crushed comments like black students shouldn’t be here prone to violence and
shouldn’t be here prone to violence and
shouldn’t be here prone to violence and move in packs caused anger in the
move in packs caused anger in the
move in packs caused anger in the spirits of my friends and I after that
spirits of my friends and I after that
spirits of my friends and I after that incidents these racially charged
incidents these racially charged
incidents these racially charged incidents that never seem to find their
incidents that never seem to find their
incidents that never seem to find their way into elite college brochures seem to
way into elite college brochures seem to
way into elite college brochures seem to happen on a regular basis comments about
happen on a regular basis comments about
happen on a regular basis comments about affirmative actions shall soured my
affirmative actions shall soured my
affirmative actions shall soured my feelings towards the acceptance letter
feelings towards the acceptance letter
feelings towards the acceptance letter that I once cherished there was the fact
that I once cherished there was the fact
that I once cherished there was the fact that it seemed like so many of my peers
that it seemed like so many of my peers
that it seemed like so many of my peers were unaffected by national news that
were unaffected by national news that
were unaffected by national news that Rekia Boyd
Rekia Boyd
Rekia Boyd Aiyana Jones Trayvon Martin and so many
Aiyana Jones Trayvon Martin and so many
Aiyana Jones Trayvon Martin and so many others
others
others being unjustly killed there was that
being unjustly killed there was that
being unjustly killed there was that time someone tagged the campus elevator
time someone tagged the campus elevator
time someone tagged the campus elevator with the n-word there was the growing
with the n-word there was the growing
with the n-word there was the growing and unaddressed concern over Princeton’s
and unaddressed concern over Princeton’s
and unaddressed concern over Princeton’s constant celebration of Woodrow Wilson’s
constant celebration of Woodrow Wilson’s
constant celebration of Woodrow Wilson’s legacy on campus
legacy on campus
legacy on campus despite his widely documented racist
despite his widely documented racist
despite his widely documented racist beliefs and actions and then there was a
beliefs and actions and then there was a
beliefs and actions and then there was a pushback that I received when I tried to
pushback that I received when I tried to
pushback that I received when I tried to declare African American Studies as an
declare African American Studies as an
declare African American Studies as an independent major because according to
independent major because according to
independent major because according to the dean’s office it was an illegitimate
the dean’s office it was an illegitimate
the dean’s office it was an illegitimate area of study this was not the Princeton
area of study this was not the Princeton
area of study this was not the Princeton that I had dreamed of from the brochures
that I had dreamed of from the brochures
that I had dreamed of from the brochures being surrounded by students that talked
being surrounded by students that talked
being surrounded by students that talked about places I had never been and went
about places I had never been and went
about places I had never been and went to private day schools and boarding
to private day schools and boarding
to private day schools and boarding schools that were equally as expensive
schools that were equally as expensive
schools that were equally as expensive as Princeton’s tuition caused me to feel
as Princeton’s tuition caused me to feel
as Princeton’s tuition caused me to feel uncomfortably aware of my economic
uncomfortably aware of my economic
uncomfortably aware of my economic status and caused me to question my
status and caused me to question my
status and caused me to question my intelligence and belonging on top of
intelligence and belonging on top of
intelligence and belonging on top of that I was worried about things at home
that I was worried about things at home
that I was worried about things at home the 2008 economic downturn impacted my
the 2008 economic downturn impacted my
the 2008 economic downturn impacted my family like many families so I was very
family like many families so I was very
family like many families so I was very uncomfortable with my unlimited meal
uncomfortable with my unlimited meal
uncomfortable with my unlimited meal plan and nice room all to myself while
plan and nice room all to myself while
plan and nice room all to myself while back home my family was figuring out how
back home my family was figuring out how
back home my family was figuring out how to keep things together I didn’t know
to keep things together I didn’t know
to keep things together I didn’t know how to manage the difficulties I was
how to manage the difficulties I was
how to manage the difficulties I was facing and I didn’t know how to ask for
facing and I didn’t know how to ask for
facing and I didn’t know how to ask for help so my depression and anxiety
help so my depression and anxiety
help so my depression and anxiety culminated in a stay at a mental health
culminated in a stay at a mental health
culminated in a stay at a mental health facility just before winter break during
facility just before winter break during
facility just before winter break during my sophomore year I came to hold the
my sophomore year I came to hold the
my sophomore year I came to hold the belief that Princeton was a terrible
belief that Princeton was a terrible
belief that Princeton was a terrible place and that I must get home as soon
place and that I must get home as soon
place and that I must get home as soon as possible
as possible
as possible I thought college was supposed to be
I thought college was supposed to be
I thought college was supposed to be free of racism and all the other isms
free of racism and all the other isms
free of racism and all the other isms that caused division in the larger world
that caused division in the larger world
that caused division in the larger world so I thought maybe I should take a
so I thought maybe I should take a
so I thought maybe I should take a semester off or a year off as I had seen
semester off or a year off as I had seen
semester off or a year off as I had seen other students do but I was too afraid
other students do but I was too afraid
other students do but I was too afraid to do something like that so I decided
to do something like that so I decided
to do something like that so I decided to push through
to push through
to push through fast-forward to graduation when I
fast-forward to graduation when I
fast-forward to graduation when I received my diploma I was feeling
received my diploma I was feeling
received my diploma I was feeling relieved
relieved
relieved but sadness and regret but everything
but sadness and regret but everything
but sadness and regret but everything happens for a reason the pain and
happens for a reason the pain and
happens for a reason the pain and problems are experienced at Princeton
problems are experienced at Princeton
problems are experienced at Princeton were probably some of the best things
were probably some of the best things
were probably some of the best things that could have happened to me my
that could have happened to me my
that could have happened to me my experiences at Princeton fuel my current
experiences at Princeton fuel my current
experiences at Princeton fuel my current work to advocate for racial justice
work to advocate for racial justice
work to advocate for racial justice educational equity and social impact
educational equity and social impact
educational equity and social impact since graduation I’ve chosen to work in
since graduation I’ve chosen to work in
since graduation I’ve chosen to work in the nonprofit sector currently I work
the nonprofit sector currently I work
the nonprofit sector currently I work full time as an academic coach for
full time as an academic coach for
full time as an academic coach for colored students of color who are
colored students of color who are
colored students of color who are college bound in my work helping my
college bound in my work helping my
college bound in my work helping my students develop academically and
students develop academically and
students develop academically and professionally I’ve been able to make
professionally I’ve been able to make
professionally I’ve been able to make some revelatory and healing observations
some revelatory and healing observations
some revelatory and healing observations I’ve been able to see the value in
I’ve been able to see the value in
I’ve been able to see the value in students of color coming together to
students of color coming together to
students of color coming together to convene when my students come together
convene when my students come together
convene when my students come together they’re able to talk to each other and
they’re able to talk to each other and
they’re able to talk to each other and our staff about their experiences we
our staff about their experiences we
our staff about their experiences we help them make sense of everything from
help them make sense of everything from
help them make sense of everything from whitewashed history books to a lack of
whitewashed history books to a lack of
whitewashed history books to a lack of diversity amongst their teaching staff
diversity amongst their teaching staff
diversity amongst their teaching staff after they vent about whatever it is
after they vent about whatever it is
after they vent about whatever it is that makes them uncomfortable we
that makes them uncomfortable we
that makes them uncomfortable we challenge them to advocate for change
challenge them to advocate for change
challenge them to advocate for change what’s more I’ve been able to watch my
what’s more I’ve been able to watch my
what’s more I’ve been able to watch my students develop intellectually and
students develop intellectually and
students develop intellectually and understand more about their identity as
understand more about their identity as
understand more about their identity as they take college-level courses and
they take college-level courses and
they take college-level courses and topics surrounding race and difference I
topics surrounding race and difference I
topics surrounding race and difference I make sure that my students are taking
make sure that my students are taking
make sure that my students are taking the right classes I make sure that
the right classes I make sure that
the right classes I make sure that they’re asking for help and I push them
they’re asking for help and I push them
they’re asking for help and I push them to use their support systems I’m
to use their support systems I’m
to use their support systems I’m confident that my students will walk on
confident that my students will walk on
confident that my students will walk on their campuses empowered I know that
their campuses empowered I know that
their campuses empowered I know that they will be aware of the potential
they will be aware of the potential
they will be aware of the potential setbacks and difficulties they may face
setbacks and difficulties they may face
setbacks and difficulties they may face but they’ll be able to digest it accept
but they’ll be able to digest it accept
but they’ll be able to digest it accept it and take the appropriate action now
it and take the appropriate action now
it and take the appropriate action now when my students ask about Princeton I’m
when my students ask about Princeton I’m
when my students ask about Princeton I’m able to set aside all my personal
able to set aside all my personal
able to set aside all my personal experiences and tell them to apply I’ll
experiences and tell them to apply I’ll
experiences and tell them to apply I’ll tell them that
tell them that
tell them that not be exactly like the brochures but
not be exactly like the brochures but
not be exactly like the brochures but when they get there they ought to walk
when they get there they ought to walk
when they get there they ought to walk with their head up and shoulders back
with their head up and shoulders back
with their head up and shoulders back that they’re equal to everyone they may
that they’re equal to everyone they may
that they’re equal to everyone they may encounter from super wealthy kids to
encounter from super wealthy kids to
encounter from super wealthy kids to Nobel Peace Prize winning professors now
Nobel Peace Prize winning professors now
Nobel Peace Prize winning professors now there are some things that us caring
there are some things that us caring
there are some things that us caring adults can do to make sure these highly
adults can do to make sure these highly
adults can do to make sure these highly selective colleges or any college for
selective colleges or any college for
selective colleges or any college for that matter is welcoming to a diverse
that matter is welcoming to a diverse
that matter is welcoming to a diverse set of students let’s make sure that our
set of students let’s make sure that our
set of students let’s make sure that our students are pushed academically because
students are pushed academically because
students are pushed academically because they’re capable of far more than we
they’re capable of far more than we
they’re capable of far more than we think they are and this is the only way
think they are and this is the only way
think they are and this is the only way they’ll be able to keep up in college
let’s teach them how to ask for help and
let’s teach them how to ask for help and let’s make sure that we teach
let’s make sure that we teach
let’s make sure that we teach institutions not to wait to be asked and
institutions not to wait to be asked and
institutions not to wait to be asked and let’s expose them to their identity
let’s expose them to their identity
let’s expose them to their identity teach them their history and show them
teach them their history and show them
teach them their history and show them the greatness of people who look like
the greatness of people who look like
the greatness of people who look like them let’s make sure that our students
them let’s make sure that our students
them let’s make sure that our students higher education dreams come true let’s
higher education dreams come true let’s
higher education dreams come true let’s make sure that their experiences are
make sure that their experiences are
make sure that their experiences are beautiful beyond the brochures
beautiful beyond the brochures
beautiful beyond the brochures [Applause]
”
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