Michelle Obama, center, speaks with Rayven Peterson, Anta Njie, and other students of Morehouse College and Spelman College during a campus visit to Spelman College on Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Atlanta. Mrs. Obama is meeting with students who studied her book “Becoming” as a foundational text of their political science class entitled “Black Women: Developing Public Leadership Skills”. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)
Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP
Reach Higher, an organization founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama to honor and support first-generation college bound students, hosted their 5th annual Beating The Odds Summit at Howard University yesterday. Obama started Reach Higher when she was still in the White House, inviting several students from across the country to a closed-door round table to discuss the obstacles they overcame to get a college education. Reach Higher has grown to include hundreds of students, and is now an independent organization dedicated to supporting first generation college bound students.
Obama used her Instagram account as a resource for the summit, allowing one of the initial students of Reach Higher, Rachel, to take over her Instagram video to answer some questions from students around the country. Here is the advice the graduates and the former First Lady passed on at the Beating The Odds Summit yesterday:
Major In What Excites You
When one student asked how to pick a major, Obama responded, “The first two years are just to experiment and really see what turns you on. You should pick a major you’re excited about, and you’re not going to know that for a couple of years. Fortunately you’re not going to have to decide until you’re a junior. So just get out there and try some classes that make you feel excited, and pretty soon you’ll get a sense of which way to go but take your time, there is no rush.”
If You Didn’t Do Well In High School, Don’t Give Up
When one student asked if you need good grades to go to college, graduate Ariel Ventura answered the question. “I went to community college myself, I was a young Dad in college. I graduated with a 1.6 GPA in high school, barely graduated, and honestly you really just need the motivation and perseverance to get you through,“ Ventura said.
If you struggled in high school, make an appointment with a guidance counselor at your local community college. Just because you struggled in high school doesn’t mean you will struggle at your community college. If you are still interested in attending a four-year college, community colleges in every state have relationships with state colleges and universities, so if you work with a guidance counselor and work hard, you can transfer to a state school.
Time Management Is Key If You Want To Be A Student-Athlete
One student asked, “Is it hard to do sports in college?” and Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team were on hand to answer this question. “It is definitely hard to do sports in college” said Pugh. “But if you’re committed to both it’s definitely achievable, you just have to have some very good time management skills,” Lavelle added.
When Making New Friends, Be Patient And Put Yourself Out There
A student asked how to make new friends at college, and Obama said, “Making new friends in college can be tough but here is one thing I want you to know: be patient. It takes time, understand that everyone is in the same boat as you, you’re in a class full of freshmen, so they are all as nervous as you are, keep that in mind. But you’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone: don’t spend a lot of time in your dorm room, get out, walk up and introduce yourself to people, be bold or bolder than you usually are, and try to join some clubs. Do things outside of the classroom, extracurricular activities, if you like sports, try and play some sports, you will be surprised out easy it is to make friends once you put yourself out there. So go get ‘em!”
When Picking A Major, Take Your Time And
A popular question was, “How do you pick a major?” Obama said, “The first two years are just to experiment and really see what turns you on. You should pick a major you’re excited about, and you’re not going to know that for a couple of years. Fortunately you’re not going to have to decide until you’re a junior. So just get out there and try some classes that make you feel excited, and pretty soon you’ll get a sense of which way to go, but take your time there is no rush.”
Reach Out If You’re Struggling
The questions took a serious turn when a student asked, “How do you find strength during difficult times?” Obama said, “I don’t want anyone out there trying to do this thing alone, you’ve got to talk to people that you trust, make friends who you feel like you can confide in, reach out to faculty member or teaching assistants you feel like you have something in common with, and lean on them when times get hard. And if you have an opportunity, call home! That was one of the things that always made me feel good was just picking up the phone, and calling my mom and complaining for a few minutes. So don’t hesitate to reach out.”
If You Need Support, Take Initiative And Seek Campus Resources
The final question was, “How do you find support on a college campus?” Obama answered, “The thing about college is no one is going to find you and ask you if you need help. They assume that all college students are adults and they’re ready to operate on their own. So you gotta step out of your comfort zone and ask for the help you need and don’t be afraid, because all students at some point struggle with something, whether it’s academics or missing home, or financial aid support, you’re not alone but again, you can’t get help if you don’t tell anybody you need help. So reach out, and reach out early and reach out often.”
