Alumna Reflection: Looking Back on the HBCU Experience
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- Written by Stephanie L. Young
Attending Hampton University was one of the best decisions I made in my life. Not only did Hampton prepare me academically, but it also laid the foundation for my professional success and provided me with a national family of professionals to lean on throughout my career.
After attending a mixture of private and public schools in the United States and South Africa, I entered college with an international lens. The majority of my schooling was in predominantly white classrooms here and abroad. My father, a proud Morris College alum, encouraged me to look closely at HBCUs and, albeit reluctantly, I did.
I visited several colleges and saw many of our nation's prestigious universities, but I quickly decided on my sister's former "Home by the Sea"—Hampton University.
Through Hampton's pre-college program for rising high school seniors or college freshman, I soon became part of something bigger than myself, a part of a family that I wasn't willing to let go. At that young age, I realized that choosing an HBCU was more than choosing a school—it was choosing a family.
At Hampton I found that professors are not there to just see you succeed academically. Rather, they serve as guides to the professional world which, unfortunately, is sometimes not accessible to young African-American professionals. Every class, every professor, and every campus organization strongly focused on professionalism. Most importantly, anything less than the professional standard was not tolerated. Hampton set high standards—from a campus-wide dress code to mandatory business attire for class presentations, along with designated business attire days for school organizations.
Truly, we were trained to look the part, but more than polish and presentation Hampton urged substantive experiences. Most, if not all, majors required internships as a graduate requirement, so students left Hampton with real-world, authentic experiences.
"Early is on time, being on time is late, and being late is unacceptable." That was the phrase constantly drilled into our heads until we showed a true respect for time.
Finally, we learned how to work together through strong leadership organizations, and we sought to enhance our community involvement through service, sometimes as simple as mentoring incoming freshman. At Hampton, I learned to lead.
An amazing testament to the student body was the diversity within my class alone. My class was filled with talented and gifted African Americans or students from African descent, from all over the United States and the Caribbean, bringing together a wealth of knowledge and experiences culminating in the highest expressions of African-American culture.
Hampton University further shaped the pride in our heritage our parents had first instilled in us. As freshmen we were not only required to learn the words to the Hampton Alma Mater, but also the words and the history surrounding the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing.
We also had to take at least one African-American history course. Never could we be ignorant of the history of our people. Hampton gave us a free space to be proud and confident in who we were and who we are as a people. The experience grounded me in so many ways that no other institution could have. I was proud—and my pride in being an African-American woman produced a confidence I carry with me to this day.
Hampton was not just a school. Hampton was an experience that molded me into who I am today. Now, as a working professional on Capitol Hill, I am surrounded by a close network of not only Hamptonians, but also many HBCU alumni. This network provides camaraderie, professional and social support, and, of course, friendly rivalry over our sports teams and Greek affiliations.
I am proud of my decision to attend an HBCU and, more specifically, Hampton University. I am so glad I went to Hampton.
Stephanie L. Young is currently the National Press Secretary at the Office of the Democratic Whip, Rep. Steny Hoyer. She formerly served as the Co mmunications Director for the Congressional Black Caucus. She graduated from Hampton University in 2006 with a degree in broadcast journalism.
