Words of Advice from a Lincoln University Missouri Alumnae

You could feel the tension in my childhood home during the summer of 2001. My mother did not want me to transfer from Northern Michigan University to Lincoln University in Missouri. But I'd already applied, requested NMU transfer credits and scheduled a campus visit. But some blabbermouth at my mother's job mentioned to her that LU was a party school. My mother, who is a pretty easygoing woman but very strict about grades and education, immediately shut down on the idea. But I refused to give up. Other Lincoln University students may have the same dilemma, but it can be overcome.

During my childhood years, I had it set in my mind after watching "A Different World" that I always wanted to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). I didn't necessarily want to live in the south considering I hadn't been impressed by Tennessee or Florida, two states I'd visited previously. But most HBCUs are in the southern region of the United States or far on the East Coast. And I didn't want to be that far from home, so Lincoln University was the university I laid eyes on to get out of the hell that was NMU.

My mother had two more reasons she didn't want me to leave Marquette, MI'"she thought I'd put in a good fight to change NMU's practices in the English department and lack of diversity, and she hadn't heard much about LU and felt that NMU was a better school academically. But in my mind I was already at LU, especially when I found out my favorite Harlem Renaissance poet, Langston Hughes'"who ironically was what finally made me rebel against the entire NMU English staff and English department head'"attended this school.

The interesting part was that I spent so much time researching LU and realized Langston Hughes actually attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1926, not Missouri, but my mind was made up. I was going to an HBCU in the Midwest. Initially I considered my father's alma mater, Kentucky State University, but I hadn't heard much about their writing program so I drifted back to LU again. When I found out the types of writing classes LU had, I immediately registered.

Although my mother didn't want me to attend, she still accompanied me to LU for a campus visit and came with my father and brother on my first day there. As soon as she saw gold boots and purple shirts from Omega Psi Phi members as they helped people carry their luggage in, she gave me an "I told you so" glance. I burst into tears when they got ready to leave, which was the same thing I did when I got to NMU. I don't care how grown you think you are. When your family (or friends) that you've been around your whole life leaves you to fend for yourself and you don't know anybody on campus, that can be frightening. But I made the decision to attend two universities where I didn't know anybody on purpose. If I went to a university where everybody knew me, it'd be like being in high school again'"the exact reason I refused to go to any Illinois university or college. I wanted to learn what it was like to be completely on my own.

The fashion was trendier than NMU. I don't know if it was the southern belle stereotype or what, but ladies were going to class in knee-high leather boots, dresses and hair done like they were headed to prom. I was used to people trudging around with pajama pants, T-shirts, winter coats and gym shoes. I stepped my fashion game up quickly and enjoyed it because I actually like dressing up more than dressing down.

The benefits of attending LU include the following:

Health: You hear about the Freshman 15 with students who lose or gain 15 pounds, but as a junior, I still fit into that category. I dropped from a size 12 to a size 6 within a few months. It wasn't from worry or stress. I just made a point of walking up and down that long stretch of stairs from Jason's Gym to Young Hall, Page Library and my dorm room at Dawson Hall. I walked up and down hills all day long, and even when I got my off-campus apartment on the 1000 block of St. Mary's Blvd, I would jog along Missouri Blvd at night on my day's off working at Walgreen's.

The weather may have spoiled me a bit because to this day I still cannot handle Chicago winters the same. Jefferson City just didn't get as cold as Chicago, although Marquette, MI was five times worse when it came to cold. But being in a city that usually had beautiful weather that wasn't too hot or too cold made me want to exercise more. On top of that, I took a weight training class with one of the funniest teachers I've ever had, Dr. Cregger, who I'd recommend to anyone for P.E. courses.

Writing Programs: I took a couple of journalism courses while at NMU and LU, but I was not interested in being a reporter or a broadcaster. I wanted to be a full-time author so I focused on writing and poetry workshops. I must thank Ginger Jones, who left LU before I graduated, for inspiring my college writing so much. (It's funny how things work out because I now prefer journalism over fiction writing.) I also completed an internship as an editor for "Under One Sun" literary magazine and learned how to create commercials in a 2003 Advertising Principles class from a journalism teacher named Mark Nordstrom. When I came to homecoming in 2008, I found out he'd passed away, but he was one of my favorite teachers. In my 2003 journal, I see that I kept an e-mail he'd sent me complimenting my work in his class. Ginger Jones and Mark Nordstrom were the most memorable and beneficial teachers I've ever had in my life, and that includes graduate school at DePaul University, too.

Social Connections: Although I was focused on graduating since I came to LU as a junior and didn't consider the idea of pledging, I certainly enjoyed the Greek events'"the Alpha Phi Alphas were always the best in the step shows when the Ques weren't licking whip cream from strange places. I carefully taste tested Kappa juice and found out just how charming some of them are. I danced with the Ques at a toga party and networked with Sigma Tau Delta members, the International English Organization I joined. I dated on occasion and met countless attractive, focused and intelligent African-American men while I was there, many of which I still have photos of hamming it up in the lobby area of Page Library or in one of the computer labs.

Economical Bonus: In Chicago, the average amount for a decent, one-bedroom apartment is a minimum of $675, and it's difficult to find those locations. When I found a one-bedroom, off-campus apartment for $225, I thought I'd hit the jackpot. Electricity, heat and groceries were all much cheaper than living in a big city. I did all of my shopping at Walmart Supercenter because they had a grocery store to go with the rest of my daily essentials. While working at Walgreen's, I realized this convenience store had some great deals if you watched the weekly catalogs like a hawk. I made some much needed money typing papers and selling old CDs and DVDs I no longer wanted at Hasting's on Missouri Boulevard. And when I wanted to relax away from everyone, I was strolling around Capital Mall, usually in Capital 8 Theatre or finding sales on jeans at Dillard's.

My Mother's Analysis (in her own words) after I graduated: When Shamontiel told me she wanted to transfer to (Lincoln University), I heard all kinds of hearsay from every other parent who said, "No, don't send her there. Black schools, all they do is party. They don't get any education. You should make her stay where she is." We went up to the school. We had a fight. I know I was very mean to the (student tour guide) young man. Even if I did like it, I wasn't going to admit it. But I did start to like it. I saw the black history and the pictures. That became interesting to me, but I was being stubborn because all they said was it was a party school. We saw the Ques and all these guys hanging around the school and talking and laughing, and that put in my head that she wasn't going to go to class.

When I came back for a campus visit in 2003 before she graduated, I loved it. I loved the library. I loved the hills. I loved the walk. I loved the people. I loved everything about the school. And talking to Shamontiel and knowing how she was doing with her classes, she sounded happier. She was doing okay and met some new friends, and I was really happy that she was happy. I know she partied. She told me that, but she handled her business.

After she graduated, I always wanted to go back for homecoming with her. I really had no knowledge of a black school except the negative stuff. I hadn't talked to any students. I hadn't talked to anybody, but once I got there to visit and talked to some of the teachers it was just so much African-American positive culture. The world is so negative sometimes, and to see the students and adults being positive, it was really nice. I felt like I was in my childhood in the south, where people were friendly. I was really comfortable. I loved the band, the games and how positive the school is.

My Last Words: I enjoyed so much African-American history and culture while I was there, and I also learned far more about African culture than I ever knew in Chicago because there were many people from Africa who came to LU for their studies. But what some people don't realize is at so many HBCUs, there are more students of other cultures than there are blacks. There's this assumption that you have to be black to attend the school. Not true. Jefferson City is a predominantly white town. Lincoln University is what brings diversity to the town and where students intermingle with other groups.

And after I graduated, outside of my mother, Lincoln University has been my biggest supporter with both of my novels, "Change for a Twenty" and "Round Trip." Page Library's head librarian, Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson, has been my personal hero and reached out to me over the years to make sure I was succeeding with my career goals. I've spoken to college students about college life, safe sex, the English and journalism program and the corporate world. I was honored with the 2007 Master Student award. I've supported the school by becoming an alumni member and buying a brick for the Soldiers' Memorial.

Prospective students, you get what you give. There were friends of mine who flunked their way out of school. One went home to get an abortion. One transferred because she was just unhappy with the courses. LU is not for everybody, but it is what you make it. On graduation day when I looked at my peers, black, white and Latina, who marched across the stage at Jason's Gymnasium in 2003, I was so proud. Twelve family members, two of my best friends and my godson came out to support. I was as happy to let them see a bit of my world at LU as they were to see me strolling around with my Cum Laude ribbon on, turning my tassel.

Class of 2003.

To Mrs. Wilson, enjoy your retirement this coming year. I really lucked out to meet you.