SHAMAR, a Society scholarship recipient attending Middlebury College in Vermont
Shamar
In Middlebury College, I am junior and study International Political Science and Economics with Spanish. On campus, I work in the Center for Career and Internship as a Front Desk Assistant, and for a year I’ve worked as Freshman Counselor under the Wonnacott Commons. Additionally, over the years I’ve cultivated the skills to cut hair and gained financial support to service the students of color on campus. In my free time, I practice boxing in the student-led boxing club. Over the last two summers, I’ve interned in the District Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) under the Violent and Organized Crime Section (VOC), and attended the Spanish Language School in Middlebury, respectively.
This summer, I want to study for the LSAT exam while interning in a non-traditional financial sector, such as Donorchoose. Once the summer ends, I plan to study abroad at the Havana University in Cuba for a semester. After graduation, I will work for a year and consider graduate school.
LEXA, a Society scholarship recipient attending Wesleyan in Connecticut
Lexa
My second year at Wesleyan thus far has been better than I could have imagined. I am enthralled with my studies, feel settled in the community, and find myself engaged beyond the confines of the classroom. I will most likely major in Government, with a concentration in International Politics and minor in Data Analysis. My favorite course this semester is titled Policy and War Through Film, where each week we learn through readings and films about a new war, starting with Vietnam and ending with Benghazi. I have loved learning about military history, theory, and policy, as well as the ways in which hegemonic countries conduct themselves, prompting me to strongly consider the government major. Outside of the classroom, I am the Financial Manager of The Workshop, a multipurpose, student-run space that encourages creation, whether through one’s own art, hosting a performance or guest speaker, or teaching tutorials. I grow increasingly excited every day to continue my time here at Wesleyan, and feel grateful for the aid I received in order to do so.
Nicole
My college experience has been culturally shocking and never-ending learning. I have completed most of my required studio classes and have made multiple well-developed design projects. I major in graphic design and I have learned more about the subject that I can imagine. I take classes in typography and make books. I also take classes centered around design principles, and design exhibitions and products.
Over this upcoming summer, I plan on working on a summer internship with the design agency, COLLINS. Once I graduate college, I desire to find a place for myself with working in a design studio or designing for the music industry. I am also interested in editorial design. Lifestyle and music are topics in the design world that I have been looking forward to.
SHADAE, a Society scholarship recipient attending Williams College in Massachusetts
Shadae
These past three semesters at Williams have had ups and downs, but I’m happy to be there. Being at Williams has helped me form new networks as well as grow as a person. I’ve formed an awesome bond with a group of people I can sincerely call my best friends, and I’ve pushed myself to be more outgoing and participate more on campus. So, I’m the president of two student organizations, and I’ve also taken the necessary time for self care.
With the freedom at Williams I’m able to take classes outside of Pre-Med, such as African studies—which has led me toward being an Africana concentrator. (Concentrators are basically minors at other schools.) I’ve also been able to explore the medical field during an internship at NYU last summer. This January, I’m participating in TeachNYC, where I will be teaching at a public school in Brooklyn.
I have two ideas that are still in the planning stages: I will be applying for an Allison Davis/Mellon Mays Fellowship, which would allow me to do research during the summer and during the rest of my semesters at Williams. The alternative is to go home (to Barbados) and pursue a summer research opportunity at a university there.
DYMON, a Society scholarship recipient studying at Champlain College in Vermont
Dy’Mon
My time at Champlain College has been very rewarding thus far. I am majoring in Early Childhood/Elementary Education with a minor in Social Justice. I really like Champlain because of its upside-down curriculum. From the second semester of my freshman year, I have been in classrooms working with students. No other school gives this opportunity. I personally enjoyed this because it helped me realize whether teaching was for me or not. So far, I have taught in a preschool, first- and second-grade class combined, kindergarten, and a [fourth class] in Ireland. As for my life on campus, I have been very active by joining clubs and having jobs on campus. Positions I have held include: Admissions’ Contribution Team (ACT), Shades of Me, Student Ambassador for Admissions, the Champlain College Dance Team, and Orientation Leader. While at Champlain, I was awarded the opportunity to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland. While there, I was able to travel to six countries in Europe, as well as fully immerse myself in the Irish culture.
I am currently looking forward to senior year where and embarking on that fun journey to graduation. I am eager about student teaching and taking all of the exams to become a certified teacher. As for plans after graduation, I would like to take a break from school and find a job that allows me to travel. My dream job after graduation is one that pays me to travel to different countries and teach English to students. After travelling and teaching English for a number of years, I would like to pursue a master’s in Education Leadership. After which, I could finally become a principal of a school which caters to marginalized students. The reason why I am very passionate about marginalized students is that everyone needs help with becoming the best version of themselves. In order for them to excel in life, they need to see people who look like them and who came from the same places like them. After all, if it weren’t for the many resources and people that poured into my education, I would not be where I am today. Therefore, my aspiration in life is to pour into other disadvantaged students and help them excel too.