The seeds others planted throughout my life led me to Florida A&M and my future — Andscape

As I walked across the stage earlier this month during my commencement at Florida A&M University, all I could do was reflect on the ultimate favor that I’ve been shown.

My story is one of trying new things but staying true in my belief God will let you walk down the path only he has destined for you. Let me break it down.

During childhood, there are subtle seeds planted in people, and when watered and nurtured, those seeds eventually help lead people down a path of growth and maturity. As they grow up people have either parents or possibly someone else who plays a parental role in their lives, as well as other adults who make a major impact. For me those were my three band directors from elementary through high school.

In Atlanta, where I grew up, band was a huge part of the culture. When I was a kid, my local high school, Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia, had gone to the Rose Parade multiple times, as well as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and also had its own reality television show. The band was even featured in the hit movie Drumline, cast as fictional Atlanta A&T University. Where I grew up the band was just as big, if not bigger, than athletics.

All three of my band directors attended historically Black colleges and universities while marching in their respective bands – two went to Florida A&M University and the other one went to Jackson State University. Without me even knowing, they were all planting seeds in me to follow in their footsteps.

Those seeds led to me attending FAMU’s summer band camp in 2017 and 2018. After my band camp experiences, I knew I was destined to be part of the Incomparable Marching “100.”

During my junior year of high school, I realized I wasn’t going to be able to play pro basketball and figured I would have to find another way into the pro sports world. That was the start of my journalism career.

I remember watching an NFL game one Sunday and seeing Fox Sports reporter Pam Oliver. I eventually researched her career journey and noticed she also attended historically Black Florida A&M — coincidentally the same HBCU I wanted to attend.

Although my peers were applying to 10 or more institutions, my sights were set on FAMU. I applied only there and to Hampton University as a backup.

I wanted to decide on a college before my high school graduation. Though I had heard from Hampton about a scholarship by the time I walked the stage, I hadn’t yet heard from FAMU, so I went with what I had. Who would have thought the backup option actually would become my college?

As I enrolled in “the real HU” in 2019, my freshman year began much like a typical freshman year — early classes, new experiences and new friends – but something felt off. I ended up transferring to FAMU — with a scholarship — in the fall of 2020.

Enrolling during the coronavirus pandemic made my FAMU experience different than I had expected, but I was still more content than I had been at my previous stop. During my time in classes and with the band I made countless connections that helped frame my perspective on who I am and could become.

Being on an HBCU campus, every day you are reminded of the potential level of Black excellence you can attain by being around accomplished academic staff and dream-chasing students. One of the most memorable people for me was former Rhoden Fellow Pam Rentz.

I saw Rentz as we shared time in the band and even more so during her time as a fellow. I saw her traveling and having different experiences while she was a fellow and it intrigued me. Having a somewhat front-row seat to her success, doing my own research and talking to her about the fellowship led me to apply for it.

My time as a fellow has been life-changing. The trips to work and cover different events, opportunities to network with so many people and the underlying journalistic training I’ve received is nothing I take for granted.

God has brought me down a rather interesting path so far, but I know his purpose and timing is all for a reason. And as you’ve been able to read up to this point, that testament still stands true.