From finding community on the yard to preparing for graduation, HBCU students build a foundation through the people, experiences, and routines that shape college life. Some of the most meaningful lessons of an HBCU education happen between classes. They take shape in conversations with mentors, friendships built on the yard, and traditions that connect one graduating class to the next.
Then there are the everyday habits behind those bigger moments: getting ready for a busy week, making room for personal care, and finding a routine that helps keep responsibilities in balance. Together, those experiences help define what students carry beyond campus. As graduation approaches, the question becomes more personal: Who helped you get here, and what will you take with you?
For Florida A&M University senior and content creator Tatiana Bell and North Carolina A&T State University senior and campus leader Selah Longchamp, those questions provide a starting point for reflecting on college life. Their perspectives bring this story into focus through the relationships, traditions, and daily experiences that have shaped their journeys. School pride is easy to recognize during homecoming or a rivalry game. The sense of belonging behind it also develops in smaller moments, when a student finds an organization, a friend, or a place on campus where they feel connected.
At FAMU, Bell brings the perspective of a senior and content creator. Her story offers an opportunity to explore how students experience campus culture and share it with others.
“One of the traditions that has shaped my college experience the most is FAMU Homecoming,” Bell said. “Seeing alumni return year after year and connect with current students reminds me that being a Rattler is a lifelong experience.”
At North Carolina A&T, Longchamp brings the perspective of a senior campus leader. Her reflections explore how involvement and personal growth connect—and how students help shape the communities they join.
“One campus tradition that has shaped my college experience the most is North Carolina A&T’s first day of classes at the Student Center,” Longchamp said. “It’s a day when students show up in their best outfits and really express their personal style and creativity.”
For both students, the story of college is also a story about connection: the relationships that make a new environment familiar and the experiences that give school pride a personal meaning. A degree marks an individual achievement, but the journey toward it often includes people who offer guidance along the way. A mentor can help a student see a possibility they had not considered. Family members can offer encouragement during a demanding semester. Alumni can share a perspective on what comes next, while peers can make the day-to-day experience feel less overwhelming.
“My mother has been one of my biggest inspirations throughout my college journey,” Bell said. “Watching her example of leadership, service, and sisterhood inspired me to follow in her footsteps and continue her legacy by joining a sorority.”
“I would say fellow students, especially upperclassmen, have helped me find my footing the most,” Longchamp said. “From my first year on campus, I was surrounded by students who poured into me, offered advice, and helped me navigate college life.”
These relationships connect the college experience to a larger community. They also create opportunities for students to consider how they might support others, whether by encouraging a classmate, sharing advice with a freshman, or staying involved after graduation.
The Everyday Habits That Help Students Keep Going
Behind the milestone moments is the work of navigating an ordinary week. Coursework, campus commitments, personal responsibilities, and time with friends all compete for attention.
There is no one-size-fits-all routine. The most effective habits are the ones students can adapt to their own lives—like prepping for the next day, keeping their space tidy, or taking time to recharge.
“I try to plan my weeks ahead, prioritize my responsibilities, and make room for things that keep me grounded, like Pilates, spending time with loved ones, and simply taking a break,” Bell said. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you can be ambitious while still giving yourself permission to rest.”
“One of the biggest habits that helps me stay balanced is keeping a paper-and-pen agenda,” Longchamp said. “I time-block my days as much as possible and intentionally schedule breaks between tasks.”
Supporting students through these daily routines is at the heart of P&G’s HBCYOU program. Now in its fourth year, the tour is teaming up with HBCU GO for the 2026–2027 school year to provide students with everyday essentials, on-campus events, and opportunities to share their stories.
Featured brands—including Gain, Swiffer, Always, Gillette, Tide, Crest, Charmin, and Bounty—are supporting students from move-in day and homecoming to finals and graduation.
The HBCYOU tour combines practical resources with celebrations of HBCU culture:
- The P&G House of Everyday Essentials: Offers free product giveaways, dorm-life tips, and interactive brand experiences.
- HBCU GO on the Yard: Brings sports, live music, content creators, and social storytelling directly to campus.
- Branded Immersive Experiences: like the Gain Scent Garden, Gillette Styling Stations or Tide Color Studio allow students to interact with our brands in fun ways, take photos and get free product.
The 2026–2027 tour visits schools including FAMU, North Carolina A&T, Howard, Southern, Texas Southern, Spelman, Morehouse, and Hampton, along with other major HBCU events throughout the year.
Beyond on-campus events, the program centers student voices. Working with student ambassadors and creators, P&G and HBCU GO are producing original content celebrating the traditions, achievements, and everyday lives of the HBCU community.
“Through the program, I’ve created content, participated in campus activations, and helped showcase what life at an HBCU looks like from a student’s perspective,” Bell said. “One of my standout experiences was attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France, where I had the opportunity to connect with industry professionals and experience the creative industry on a global scale.”
This personal account shows how the program connects to life on campus. Senior year brings a new perspective on familiar places and routines. It is an opportunity to consider what has changed since freshman year—and what deserves to continue after graduation.
“FAMU has taught me the importance of advocating for myself, building genuine relationships, and being confident in what I bring to the table,” Bell said. “More than anything, FAMU has taught me that success isn’t just about how far you go, but how you use your experiences to open doors for others.”
“As graduation approaches, I hope to stay connected by continuing to create content that helps students navigate their college journeys,” Longchamp said. “I also hope to continue growing my HBCU Legaseed Scholarship.”
The traditions students inherit and the relationships they build give their college experiences meaning. The habits they develop help them navigate the days between milestones. And the lessons they share can help the next generation find its place. That is the community this story celebrates: one shaped by students today and carried forward by the graduates they become.
Follow #HowWeHBCYOU across social media for student stories, tour updates, product giveaways, and opportunities to connect with the community.
Visit How We HBCYOU to learn more about P&G’s HBCYOU Program and shop our HBCYOU Amazon Page to support the HBCYOU brands that make this all possible.
