Black College Tour 2016 Day 4

By Student Blogger Bria Smith:

On Tuesday, March 29, The YMCA visited the large University Prairie View A&M. We were greeted with vast grasslands of agriculture, tall glass college buildings, and a warm cultured atmosphere. We entered a chapel and were introduced to two college students, who shared their majors, past high school success and admiration for Prairie View. Even inspirational history on the University, dating back to historical time periods and the affects it had still possessed over Prairie View and it's students. After a few informative questions and answers, we were split up into two groups; Freshmen and Sophmores, Juniors and Seniors, and were off touring the 1,424 acres of Universtiy land. From the EE Science building, to the Agriculture Labs and even a decorative model dorm room, our brains and notepads, were filled with abundant information that the school had contained, along with opportunities and assistance. After a very detailed tour, the two groups merged together and headed off to the cafeteria, which was already filled with college students during a busy lunch hour. The experience of getting a lunch and sitting amongst college students really captured the idea of what everyday college life feels like. The visit was soon coming to an end, and we were rewarded with a chance to shop at the Prairie View bookstore where most bought shirts, pants, socks and anything that repped the school.

Touring Prairie View A&M was a remarkable experience, the information, design of the campus, and the feeling of welcome as we roamed the streets, peering inside the life of an average college student. 

Leaving Prairie View and entering Baton Rouge, the YMCA stopped at a tasty barbecue restaurant called Voodoos. We enjoyed sandwiches in and outside the cozy sit down, and mingled amongst each other. 

Black College Tour 2016 Day 3

By Student Blogger Disheka Moore:

On day 3 of the college tour, we went to go visit Texas Southern University. Although it was in the area closer to the neighborhood of Houston, it seems to have had quite a decent scenery. The school was full of diverse students who took part in festivities while class was dismissed. Our tour guide gave us a brief explanation of many locations on the campus while we viewed the recreation center, the basketball stadium and the lunch room. The friendly laid back environment that was portrayed stood out the most about this university, which definitely sets itself apart from the other colleges so far. Some information was not received by everyone, but there was enough given out to change some of my peers' (who are seniors) considerations in applying. After the college tour we went to go visit the Buffalo Soldiers Museum. In the beginning, we watched a video clip of the background information of the Buffalo Soldiers and how they were significant towards the civil war and the surrounding time era. Once the video was finished, an actor who was an older man that dressed in the Buffalo Soldier Uniform reinacted the point of view of a soldier during the time period and told a story at the same time about the different events happening during such a tragic time. This performance was extraordinary because it highlighted different elements that I never knew about during the Civil war with the Buffalo Soldiers. After that performance we viewed the different rooms containing pictures and actual clothing/ materials pertaining to the civil war period and the Buffalo Soldiers. An interesting aspect of this part of the tour was the different connections that was made with the Indians, the Astronauts and the Tuskegee airmen. This broadened my knowledge and helped me analyse the whole entire hsitory behind the scenes of ww2 and the civil war era

Black College Tour 2016 Day 2

By Student Blogger Lundyn Opuiyo:

Day 2
We experienced a great church service. At the beginning of the service I felt a little tired, so I was dozing in and out. Once the spoken word picked up, I was fully engaged. Almost everyone was captivated by the words the women spoke. The messages from the spoken work and the pastor were direct and easy to relate to. They spoke of rejection and self worth. I noticed how moved all of the people around me were by the end of the service. In my moment of reflection, I denounced the lies I've accepted from others. I forgave myself for believing those lies and I also forgave those who rejected me. I feel as though I was able to release some of the baggage I was carrying. For this reason, Easter Sunday's service on the Black College Tour was the best service I've attended.