Student Responses From the HBCU Tour

Monet Guidry

I think this trip was a great experience, overall. All of the colleges and universities that we went to helped me decide which college would be best for me to attend. Along with my roommates, we all think that college life at the colleges and universities we chose would be best for us. I also think that the historical places we visited gave me a view on the history of African Americans and the struggle they faced to make their way to freedom. Altogether, I think that in the future, when I am making my decision on the college that I want to attend, this experience will help me make that decision. It will help me take the right path and help me choose the right college for me.

Will G, Asat, Miguel T

This tour was an exciting experience. I believe that this tour further educated us in what it means to be an African American. This colleges and universities that we went to were amazing. We were astonished to find out how many people are just like us in college. When we saw that, we no longer felt a burden on our shoulders because we now have the evidence to show us that we can make it into a great institution to further our education and knowledge. We are very proud to be a part of this tour, and even more proud to be African Americans.

Catherine Waters

This trip was a learning experience. I learned a lot of college requirements, great things about campus life, made a lot of new friends from different areas and backgrounds, and learned a lot of black history. This trip prepared me to start getting ready to apply to colleges. When I first stepped onto the bus, I felt uncomfortable to be around a lot of new people that I did not know or had never spoken to. I also wasn’t sure if I would want to attend a Historically Black College because I did not know if I would be able to adjust to the atmosphere, since I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood and attended a primarily white school. However, now that I have experienced college life at these HBCUs, I think that I could definitely attend one. I also now have a greater appreciation for our ancestors and what they went through to get black people where we are today. This tour was a very enjoyable trip and I hope that in two years my little sister will be attending the same one.

Kaleeq Anderson

As a room captain throughout this trip, I though that this has been a wonderful experience. Being able to see, hear, and walk in the shoes of college students made the experience all the better. From the tour guides to the mentors, I was educated to understand and grasp the purpose of Historically Black Colleges. Therefore, I greatly appreciate the experience of the NEED HBCU Tour.

Jordan Howard

First off, I would just like to praise God for giving me this wonderful opportunity! This has opened my eyes to what real life is really about. I thought that along with life lessons, there came a lot of opportunities to see what my forefathers had to go through to get me to where I am today. Seeing lynching exhibits, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and other historical places like that helped me see this. I also know what I need to strive for to get into either Morehouse, North Carolina A&T, or Howard University.

Madison A. Brown

At first, I did not even want to come on this tour because I assumed that it would be a total waste of time. Now that I have experienced this, I am extremely glad that my mom wanted me to come on this tour! Visiting all of the colleges has helped me pick and choose what I like in a college. I have definitely discovered my like for Spelman College! Although, all of the additional stops to the historical sites came as a surprise to me, I learned a lot from them; I was taught deeper knowledge about the things that my ancestors went through. I appreciate this opportunity a lot!

Jasmine Wallace

I have many different personal outlooks on the colleges and historical sites that we visited. A lot of the historical sites left a strong emotional affect on me. They really taught me the struggles that our people had to go through so that we can live as free people today. This experience has truly made me value my life much more. As for the schools, I really enjoyed the different atmospheres of the many colleges and universities. The colleges that are on the top of my list are Clark Atlanta, North Carolina A&T, and Spelman College. These colleges appealed to me the most because they offer the major that I am interested in, the atmospheres were great, and I could definitely see myself there. I enjoyed and appreciated this trip and I can honestly say that this has been a life-changing experience!

Taylah J. Pipkin

Attending this college tour has been a life-changing experience for me. While visiting certain colleges, I viewed the life of different groups of college students. After visiting certain halls and lecture halls, I realized how intriguing college will be. Even though some of the colleges are big and others are small, I still was able to understand that college is all about time-management. After viewing the historical sites, I feel as though it is my duty to attend college and become something great in life. This tour has made me realize that no matter what, I will attend college and manage my time well. Without management and hope, I will get nowhere in life. Those are things that we all should always have.

James Jackson

My overall reflection of the trip is very helpful. It is a privilege, not an opportunity, to be here. I could have been anywhere during this Spring Break, but I am here with you. On this trip, there were some universities that I knew of and some that I had no idea about. It has been a learning process; I learned new things that I didn’t know before. In addition to the universities that we visited, we actually visited historical sites that were ground-breaking. This Spring Break was a learning experience on its own. In an overall aspect of the trip, it was amazing!

Terek Swanson and Tyreq Black

On behalf of Miles Brown, Tyreq Black, Christian Alexander, and myself, I feel as though we all gained an experience that helped pave a way for us to make tough decisions and choices; from learning about each school’s academics and expectations to witnessing historical sites and learning about our ancestor’s struggles, such as lynching. I believe if we were to be asked what school we want to attend, we all would be able to answer the question without any hesitation. Tyreq Black said, “This experience has made me humble and hungry for more. These colleges have informed us all (not only my roommates). I am appreciative for this tour and the friends that I have gained along the way.” Also, on behalf of Imani Christian Academy, I would like to thank all of the chaperones. Thanks for taking out of your precious and important time to pass on your knowledge and wisdom.

Imani Milliones

Attending NEED'S Historically Black College Tour was not only enlightening for me, but it was also eye-opening. Visiting black institutions all over the south was a little startling; to know that our people endured so many troubles and so much pain for us to do something as common as riding on the bus, was life-changing. Although I knew I wanted to attend Spelman College prior to this trip, the HBCU tour allowed me to see other options; “back-ups,” if you will. I enjoyed a majority of the campuses and centers; altogether, it was a good experience. I would recommend this tour to people, especially individuals who are not sure if they want to attend college. I would like to thank Mr. Pace, Mr. Terry, Mr. Burley, Ms. Ellis, and the rest of the NEED staff for awarding us with this opportunity. Hopefully, in three years, I will be the "Spelman Sister" giving NEED the tour!

Lynnelle Wood and Family

Dear Historically Black College Tour team,

Darnelle Simmons and his family would like to thank you for giving him such an educational experience of his life! I would also like to thank the advisors in assisting him during the trip and encouraging him in educational goals. “Thank You” for a well-planned meaningful college tour. Lastly but not least, a special "Thank You" to the tour bus drivers for bringing our son home safely. We cannot express "Thank You" enough for taking the time out of your lives to make a difference in our youth of today, so that they can be successful adults in the future.