The Upset – Diamond Editorial

Posted by Robert Hoggard
Posted on
black_datingDating is fun, but it can be tricky. From picking someone you are mentally stimulated by; versus the person who gets your hormones jumping. It is hard to find the one who does both. I would imagine that it would be hard to meet someone great, and not be sexually attracted to them, but what happens when the person you have just met is everything…  except good in bed?

How unfortunate it is to really invest time, and get acclimated to a person and eventually find out they can’t take you to that climax. Ok, ok. Let’s not even discuss climaxes just yet. I understand that they can be a whole different story (namely, for women). What about good sex in general. You know, passion, good feelings.. Etc. ?

If the sex is bad, how do you deal? Is it a deal breaker?

How interesting it must’ve been for our grandparents. They would fall in love, submit to each other and hope that the sex was A1. Scary!

We all know, sex is a big deal; especially, good sex! I mean, frequency is and always will be a big deal. However, the frequency won’t matter if the quality is lacklustre. Right? If the sex isn’t to your liking; cheating, going outside of your relationship, and overall resentment are way more likely. The fire must be kept up by way of passion. Most of which, comes from sexual relations between two people. Without good sex or sex in general, you’re just friends. So how do you avoid The Upset? Are there ways to find out? Unfortunately, no. It may be that the only way to truly know, is to well you know, find out. Outside of natural chemistry, you will never really be able to tell if the sex is fire… So after taking the time to get to know your person and the sex is bad… does it ruin it? Or, do you try to work with it?

In a society where sex is rampant and all too easy to get, what you can’t do, someone else will. What you dont get, someone else can give you. In order to make and keep relationships strong. Your relationship must be your one stop shop. One must feel as if they recieve all that they need within the confines of their union. So, is it smarter to try before you buy? – (for a lack of better words). What I mean is, before you get into a relationship with someone, you may want to try there performance out.

That doesn’t mean you do it in a hurry. Just know that before you get seriously into a person, how they, do what they do is very important for the long haul…

Wilberforce at Risk of Losing Accreditation

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
The nation’s oldest historically black private university is at risk of losing its accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, according to documents from the commission.

Wilberforce University received a “Show-Cause” order from the commission by certified mail on Monday.

The “Show-Cause” order is procedural and requires that the university present its case “as to why its accreditation should not be withdrawn.” The order is effective as of June 12 — the date the board of the Higher Learning Commission issued it.

A letter to interim president Wilma Mishoe from the commission outlines multiple problems with the school related to admnistration and board issues. The letter also notes significant financial, admission and infrastructure issues. According to the document, Wilberforce enrolled fewer than 100 students in the fall 2013 class. Of those students, 28 percent of the class withdrew during the fall term. The university set an enrollment projection of 200 students for fall 2014.

In one of several sections documenting non-compliance with accreditation criteria, the letter to Mishoe said, “The University has not demonstrated its ability to make adequate and realistic plans for the future.”

“The University administration has put forth business models that do not reflect best practice in higher education and do not take into account readily available financial and trend information in hgiher education that indicate such enrollment increases are unlikely; results of planning documents indicate that the University consistently faild to achieve its stated goals; and the University continues to predict improved enrollment and revenues even as it is in a state of financial emergency and crisis to its physical plant and infrastructure.”

Read more here

Chrysler Launches New Intern Exchange Program to Attract Top Talent, Including Howard University

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
15268219-mmmain

AUBURN HILLS, MI- While summer officially started Saturday, hundreds of summer interns have been working at Chrysler facilities for weeks in hopes of gaining professional experiences or even a job.

More than 500 paid interns, including nearly 100 returning interns, are working for the Auburn Hills-based automaker across the Midwest – from its massive headquarters to factory floors. This is the largest class of summer interns Chrysler has ever had in the program’s 19 years. They hail from 127 universities and 27 states.

“We’re so proud that we’ve been able to grow our intern program,” said Denise Debouvre, Chrysler university relations manager. “We have interns at every facility throughout our company, which is really exciting.”

And while Chrysler strives to create a unique, educational experience for all of its interns, four supply chain management students from Arizona State University and Howard University are part of an inaugural program that Chrysler has hopes of expanding.

‘Where East Meets West – In the Midwest’

The new program is called “SCM Leadership Exchange & Internship Program,” also known as LEIP. It involves two ASU seniors and two Howard juniors not only working on a project together during their summer internship, but actually switching universities. Read Full Article at MLive

Kevin Hart Donates $50K to HBCU and Tom Joyner, Buys Out Theatre in Appreciation

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
kevinhart_1

Joyner and Hart doing big things for the community!

Tom Joyner confirmed that while Kevin Hart was co-hosting for 3 hours on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show leading into the release of his latest movie ‘Think Like a Man Too’, Hart offered to donate $50,000 to send the Texas Southern University’s band to see Michael Strahan inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. After Kevin heard that the Tom Joyner Foundation was raising funds for the band he offered to help them get there. The Tom Joyner Foundation supports HBCUs.

In appreciation, while broadcasting live with Radio One’s KMJQ-Majic 102.1 FM from the Breakfast Klub in Houston, TX for the Texas Black Expo, Joyner purchased 100 tickets to support Kevin’s film ‘Think Like a Man Too’ opening in theaters today. Read Full Article at Black America Web

“Instagram Fame -Us by Diamond L. Mitchell

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
arton2854

Follow me on Instagram..

You hear that phrase a lot. Normally, it is followed by phrases like, “Speaking of Instagram, Why did such and such like my picture?” “Girl, his girl doesn’t know he left his number on my picture from weeks back” , “If she likes one more picture, I’m gonna slide in her DM’s.” With social media being such a large part of our lives, and for many, a source of validation and worth; where and how do we let it affect our relationships?

It has become quite apparent to me that social media can be the devil.. Especially, Instagram.

Well, according to everyone else.

Everyone says that Instagram can be the downfall of a relationship. The claim is that it can cause problems that wouldn’t be there other wise. I must say, I disagree. Does Instagram cause the problems? Or is it just a highlighter for the things people would be doing regardless? We see the features of social media and complain.. We don’t want it to be able to locate where we are. We don’t want it to notify others of who we’re interacting with. But why? I realize that these features can be excessive, but I guess there is good reason to wonder why they are so unwanted. We all know why. People are sneaky and needy!

Relationships and Instagram are possible. Right? The bond just has to actually be there. We have different tests in our generation. The tests of temptation are at an all time high. The boldness from others is moreso than ever, and trust is necessary to be able to withstand it. The key word is trust. There needs to an understanding that accountability will also be necessary.

Isn’t it interesting that the complaints for social media are so rampant? From males complaining that their girlfriends are snooping, to the women complaining, (after snooping) that their men are being flirty and unfaithful; I’m not sure who’s at fault. I think it’s just a real issue. If there was security in the relationship in the beginning, there would be no need to snoop. If there was truth, honesty, and accountability, there would be no basis to go outside your relationship. I guess with Instagram Vixens, and the “thirst” everyone is hollering about, it would be pretty hard to have and keep any of the aforementioned. That is the problem though, not Instagram. It is the outlet that Instagram provides to the outside that threatens and sometimes, destroys relationships.

So what does that say to you?

If you cannot keep a strong relationship despite Instagram, or any other social media, you should reevaluate what you and your person have. Relationships now need to be stronger, because distractions and temptations are stronger. Social media is just a mirror of what it is that is happening anyway. It is public and in your face. So what do you do? Stay private? Or declare your love, and love interest to the world?

I don’t know if I could say either is wrong. I would just suggest you know what you’re up against and know how strong the bond is with your boo. Using instagram for validation,detective work or a cheating outlet in your relationship might be the first sign that bae ain’t really bae.

Read More articles by Diamond via http://theeundeniablesupply.com/

Posted by HBCU Editors Posted on 5632 articles

2014 Top HBCU Supporters Named

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

According to a release by diversity media company Career Communications Group, Inc., The Boeing Company, the world’s leading aerospace company, is one of over 75 leading organizations that support the mission of our nation’s 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The Boeing Company, who recently named Morehouse man Ted Colbert to chief information officer of the company’s Information Technology organization, joins a list of other top HBCU organizations identified as the “2014 Top HBCU Supporters.”

Here’s the list:

3M

Abbott Laboratories

Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering (AMIE)

Alabama Power Company

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC)

Battelle Memorial Institute

Bosch

BP

California Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technology

Central Intelligence Agency

CH2M Hill

Chevron Corporation

Chrysler Group LLC

Corning Incorporated

Deere & Company

EMC Corporation

Exelon Corporation

Exxon Mobil Corporation

General Electric International, Inc.

General Motors Company

Golden LEAF Foundation

Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Harris Corporation

Hewlett-Packard Company

Honda Motor Company, Ltd

Honeywell International, Inc.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

iAM Solutions

Infosys

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

JPMorgan Chase and Co.

KCI Technologies Inc.

Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Lockheed Martin Corporation

L-3 Communications Holdings

Maryland Environmental Service

Maryland Department of the Environment

Maryland State Highway Administration

MeadWestvaco Foundation

Merck & Co., Inc.

Meridian Management Group

Michigan State University

Microsoft Corporation

Missile Defense Agency

National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

National Nuclear Safety Administration

National Science Foundation

National Security Agency

Naval Air Systems Command

Naval Sea Systems Command

Norfolk Southern Corp

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Procter & Gamble (P&G)

Que Options

Raytheon Company

Riverside Foundation

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Sandia National Laboratory

Southern Company

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

The Boeing Company

The Freelon Group

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

The MITRE Company

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Unisys Corporation

United States Department of Transportation

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Army

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers

U.S. Army Research Lab

U.S. Army Research Office

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Navy

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Virginia Department of Transportation

Xerox Corporation Ltd.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund Receives $600,000 Grant from the Walmart Foundation

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Washington, DC, June 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is pleased to announce a $600,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to help build future leaders and assist with scholarships for students attending publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), announced TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. The grant will support TMCF’s Annual Leadership Institute, strengths-based coaching and mentorship for low-income students and first-generation scholarships for freshman college students at TMCF’s 47 member-schools.

“The Leadership Institute, in particular, gives talented future leaders a one-of-a-kind intensive, professional and career development experience,” says Taylor. “This is a great opportunity for these hand-picked students to network and interview with some of the nation’s top executives and elite graduate school recruiters.”

For the last 14 years, TMCF has hosted its annual Leadership Institute, the premier recruitment conference for publicly-supported HBCU students. This four-day conference gives talented future leaders a unique professional development experience. A highly selected group of 500 students have the opportunity to network and participate in sessions with some of the nation’s top executives on leadership development, career management, life skills, financial literacy and global competiveness. One of the main components of the conference is the Recruitment Fair, where students meet and interview with over 60 companies and government agencies for job and internship opportunities, in addition to some graduate program opportunities from some of the best in the country.

“The Walmart Foundation has been a loyal supporter of TMCF for years and continued partnership shows their commitment to education, but more importantly creating the workforce of tomorrow,” continued Taylor.

Continue reading

Fayetteville State Alumnus Gives $1 Million to Alma Mater

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
With his $100,000 donation to Fayetteville State University in 2012, Nicholas Perkins, a 2003 graduate of the historically black university in North Carolina, was already the record holder for biggest individual gift in school history.

On Monday, the president of Charlotte-based Perkins Management Services announced a gift of $1 million to his alma mater, which will help Fayetteville State allocate millions to academic and athletic scholarships to future students.

“It is critically important that individuals support historically black institutions financially,” Perkins said in a news release. “…My planned gift demonstrates my faith in and commitment to Fayetteville State University and its mission.”

Perkins’s gift to Fayetteville State shows his commitment to see the HBCU continue to grow, says Fayetteville State Chancellor James Anderson, calling Perkins the “epitome of a Bronco” (the school’s mascot).

“This historical gift speaks volumes of his desire to see this institution flourish and function at the highest levels. On behalf of the students of FSU who will be the recipients of his generosity, I thank him for his dedication to this university,” said Anderson.

According to a recent report by the Council for Aid to Education, alumni at historically black colleges and universities gives back below 10 percent.

Tommy Meade Jr. is HBCU Buzz’s Editor-in-chief. Follow him on Twitter.

Like ‘the Buzz’ on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

New HBCU Domestic Study Abroad Program Allows for Educational Experience Right at Home

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
Displaying joe_laker_bio_photo.jpgAs a White male attending a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), my views on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were largely uninformed.

Before visiting Morehouse College and Spelman College as a part of a “domestic study abroad” trip last month, I had no knowledge of the unique characteristics and importance of such institutions–my experiences prior to this trip had been solely at a large public PWI in the Midwest. HBCUs were very unfamiliar to me, and I felt this trip could be a valuable learning experience to reflect on different elements of diversity among higher education institutions.

For ten days my classmates and I immersed ourselves at Morehouse College. It was an incredibly educational and inspiring experience that allowed me to recognize how higher education was built and still exists within a system of institutional racism and inequality.

Throughout our course we read the text Understanding Minority Serving Institutions edited by Dr. Marybeth Gasman, Benjamin Baez, and Caroline Sotello Viernes Turner. We read numerous articles on HBCUs, watched videos of the Civil Rights Movement while discussing current issues facing HBCUs. However the true learning experience took place once we arrived at Morehouse to listen to experiences firsthand.

We met with faculty members, administrators, student affairs staff members and students. The student’s shared experiences gave us a glimpse of how these colleges have positively affected their lives and countless other students in ways that PWIs may struggle to match. We attended baccalaureate ceremonies, graduation, and the “March through the Arch” Ceremony at Spelman College. We visited Birmingham to tour the Civil Rights Museum and the 16th street Baptist Church. In Atlanta, we went to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and toured his childhood home.

The most powerful moment for me was hearing the lived experiences of students at Morehouse and Spelman College and how attending an HBCU was critical not only to their education, but their identity development and how it served as an overall foundation for their future.

The combination of these experiences made for a truly powerful educational experience, one that I will take with me as a future professional in higher education and continually work to understand.

From the outside looking in, perceptions can be that HBCUs educate African Americans as a monolithic group. In reality, the diversity of the African American experience at Morehouse is incredible.

Morehouse and Spelman both bring in students from all over the country; they recruit international students, students with various socioeconomic statuses, different religions and ideologies and identities, all of which foster the environment that makes Morehouse such an incredible place for student development.

As one student said, “being immersed in an environment with so much diversity and difference really allows for growth and learning.”

From this experience I have come to greatly appreciate the importance of HBCU’s for American society and higher education. HBCUs graduate approximately 20% of African Americans who earn undergraduate degrees with only 105 institutions in existence. However, HBCUs are disproportionately underfunded, undervalued, stereotyped and perceived as unnecessary by the uniformed.

In a “color-blind, post-racial” society, where affirmative action is incorrectly seen as unnecessary and public education in communities of color are so drastically underserved compared to their White counterparts, HBCUs are needed more than ever. Not only just to counter this rhetoric, but to foster leaders that can truly create change in our society and continue the rich diversity that is needed throughout higher education. I am very grateful for the opportunity Morehouse College faculty, administrators and students gave us, welcoming us to their institution as students wanting to better our knowledge about HBCUs.

Op-ed by Joe Miller, graduate student at Grand Valley State University

Does “Drumline” and “Stomp the Yard” Influence Present-Day HBCU Students?

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
The hit television sitcom “The Cosby Show” and its spin-off “A Different World” almost surely helped increase the amount of students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

From the debut of “The Cosby Show in 1984 until the season finale of “A Different World” in 1993 black colleges attendance grew by 24 percent, according to ‘hip-hop president’ Dr. Walter Kimbrough. (44 percent better than all of higher education)

“There is no doubt that popular culture can influence growth,” said Kimbrough, the 7th president of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Perhaps Hip-Hop Prez is right.

A Different World became the first situation comedy to address the looming of the Persian Gulf War in August 1990, when Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait, and The Cosby Show stayed on the top of Nielsen ratings for five consecutive seasons.

Perhaps it is practical to argue that these two beloved sitcoms based on family life, in an African-American perspective, changed everything for future television sitcoms, and American culture and beliefs on the black family.

But what impact does the black family-education themed films like “Drumline,” starring actor Nick Cannon, who plays a young drummer from New York, and “Stomp the Yard,” featuring actress Meagan Good (and others), and depicts the somewhat fictional life of Black Greek Lettered Organizations have on today’s HBCU students?

Here is what some students say:

 

Tommy Meade Jr. is HBCU Buzz’s Editor-in-chief. Follow him on Twitter.

Like ‘the Buzz’ on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

 

Obama Announced Student Loan Changes–What it Means for Borrowers

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
At $1 trillion and counting, President Barack Obama is taking executive action in effort to ease the student loan debt crunch.

The president announced Monday the expansion of 2010’s “Pay as You Earn” program that caps some graduates’ repayments at 10% of their monthly discretionary income. The executive order increases eligibility of the program to include those who took out loans before October 2007 or stopped borrowing by October 2011, a move the White House says will expand payment relief to nearly five million people.

The government determines discretionary income by subtracting 150% of the poverty level from an individual’s total income, explains Mark Kantrowitz, senior vice president and publisher of Edvisors Network. “The idea is that it accounts for money you have no real choice of how to spend. It goes to paying for basic living expenses. It’s a rough cut, but a reasonable approximation.”

The reprieve goes into effect December 2015.

“In a 21st Century economy, a higher education is the single best investment that you can make in yourselves and your future.  And we’ve got to make sure that investment pays off,” the president said Monday.

The federal government offers different repayment plans to help cash-strapped borrowers, including income-based repayments, the graduated repayment program, and forgiveness programs for on-time payments and public-sector employees.

Under many of the plans, low-income borrowers can have their balance canceled after 25 years of on-time payments. The president’s plan moves the forgiveness date to 20 years or 10 years for those in public service jobs.

“It will slightly increase the amount of debt that is forgiven, but it’s not going to be enough to stimulate the economy,” says Kantrowitz. “If the government were to forgo all student loan debt immediately, it would have a 0.4% impact on the GPD. It wouldn’t really move the economy.”

Read more here.

Koch Brothers Gift $25 Million to United Negro College Fund

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
The United Negro College Fund announced a $25 million grant Friday from Koch Industries Inc. and the Charles Koch Foundation — a large donation from the conservative powerhouse Koch name that Democrats have sought to vilify heading into the 2014 midterm elections.

The UNCF, known for its iconic motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” supports historically black colleges and universities and provides scholarships.

From the donation, $18.5 million will go toward nearly 3,000 merit-based scholarships to African-American students, and $6.5 million will go toward general support for historically black colleges and universities and the UNCF.

African-Americans are a key constituency within the Democratic Party. But Michael Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF, said that since the organization’s inception in 1944, it has reached out to people of all backgrounds for support without an “ideological lens” because it is in everyone’s interest. The organization has awarded $100 million in scholarships to more than 12,000 students at 900 schools this year alone, but he said the need is so great that the organization turns away nine out of every 10 applicants, or about 100,000 students annually.

He said that in today’s politically charged climate, he’s prepared to take criticism from those of different political leanings than the Kochs.

“Criticism is a small price for helping young people get the chance to realize their dream of a college education, and if I’ve got to bear the brunt of someone else’s criticism to ensure that we have the resources to help those students, then I can handle it, and I can take the heat,” Lomax said.

Lomax said he and Charles Koch, chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, based in Wichita, Kansas, had lunch together and were able to find that we “shared a profound belief in the importance of education.”

 “We talked about students. We talked about the kinds of support they need. We talked about the shared belief that there are a lot of talented young people there whose lives will be transformed if they get a chance to complete a college degree,” Lomax said.

In a statement, Koch said that “increasing well-being by helping people improve their lives has long been our focus” and that the partnership will provide promising students with new educational opportunities.

“We have tremendous respect for UNCF and we are hopeful this investment will further its effectiveness in helping students pursue their dreams,” Koch said.

Historically black colleges and universities, which serve a disproportionately large share of low-income students, have been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn. Among the issues: a lack of healthy endowments, a high unemployment rate among black Americans and tougher credit standards implemented by the Education Department that make it harder to secure a federal Parent PLUS loan used by many of these students’ families.

Read more at The Huffington Post

DC Students Place in 2014 EnvironMentors National Fair

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
Description: C:Usersleslie.maloneAppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsTemporary Internet FilesContent.WordUDC - Tianna Solomon 1.jpgThe National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) EnvironMentors has announced the winners of the State Science Fair for the District of Columbia and the national competition. Taking the top honor for state was Xiu Chen, and second place went to Beza Dagnachew, both from the School Without Walls. Tianna Solomon took third place. The three D.C. champions participated—and placed—in the national competition held May 19, which was moderated by Dr. Dwane Jones, director, Center for Sustainable Development.

Tianna Solomon placed third nationally with her project: “The Effect of Air Pollution on Blackworm Skin Cells” and received a scholarship valued at $800. Placing fifth was Xiu Chen with “The Effects of Heavy Metal Toxins in Drinking Water on Lumbriculus variegates: Heart Rate, Cell Regeneration and Mortality,” for which she received $500. Beza Dagnachew also received the Leach Environmental Stewardship $500 award for “Portable Charger: Thin-film and Nanotechnology.”

“I watched with pride as the three DC winners also placed in the national competition,” said Dr. Jones, who also served as the keynote speaker. “This is an extraordinary achievement and I’m confident that all three will continue to make great achievements in the field of environmental science.”

Founded in 1992 as an environment-based mentoring program, EnvironMentors has 12 chapters across the country. The program encourages underserved youth to explore environmental education by using a hands-on, integrated program where scientific methodology is used to identify environmental issues.

Read more here

13 Things I Wish I Knew on Graduation Day

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

489180623-graduates-participate-in-howard-universitys-146th

By T.J. Holmes, The Root

I have no idea who spoke during my college-graduation ceremony or what she (I think it was a woman) said. Chances are she talked about passion, service to others, following your dream, learning from failure, changing the world, fears, opportunity, blah, blah, blah. Commencement speeches often follow these worthy themes.

Here is what I wish somebody had told me, and what today’s college graduates need to hear:

1. Get a dream consultant. 

You’re told from childhood to graduation day to follow your dreams. While the commencement speakers who dole out this advice are often wildly successful, chances are you won’t be. And that’s OK. How many of us are actually living out our dreams?

Dreams sound great before the first student-loan payment is due. Someone should sit you down to assess whether your dream is a worthwhile and reasonable pursuit, and let you know that you’re not a failure if you don’t achieve whatever dream you had. There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, but your idea of what it means to be happy and successful changes with experience in the real world.

2. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

You’re told to be fearless in your pursuits. But it’s OK to be scared. Fear gives perspective, though you shouldn’t let it stand in your way. Be the person who recognizes and feels the fear and then does that scary thing anyway. That’s courage.

A fearless person is actually pretty scary—someone who doesn’t understand what’s at stake and pursues it with a reckless disregard for the consequences. You don’t want to follow him or her.

3. Resist calls to have a precise answer to this question: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

There are countless articles online dedicated to helping you answer this question during a job interview. Do what you have to do to get through the interview, but be careful in trying to map out your life so precisely. You can get discouraged when things throw you off course, and become blind to other golden opportunities that don’t seem to fit into your concrete plan.

4. Find something more interesting than sex.

This goes beyond just having a hobby. You should have an intellectual pursuit, something that you crave because of how it stimulates your mind. Poetry? Economics? Astronomy? Even auto mechanics or a particular culture. Whatever. (Admittedly, this one took me a while.)

5. If your gut tells you to do something, get a second opinion.

Following your gut or instinct is a common refrain in commencement speeches that should be taken with a grain of salt. Don’t wait to be overcome by some feeling, and don’t misinterpret it if it comes. A feeling is often emotion minus the intellect. I assure you, I’ve had a gut feeling about every Powerball ticket I ever bought.

6. Make sure your circle of friends is doing better than you are.

Being around people who are in the same struggle as you gets you nowhere. Don’t get jealous, feel inadequate or be intimidated because of people’s happiness, success or stuff. You should get around them as much as you can. It will rub off on you—plus, you’ll be around people in a position to help.

7. Call somebody.

In the past 24 hours, I’ve chatted with roughly 30 friends, family members and work colleagues. But I’ve only made one phone call. Texts, email, Twitter, Facebook, etc., have replaced human interaction. Pick up a phone and let somebody hear your voice.

8. Move changing the world to the bottom of the to-do list.

There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, but most of us won’t change the world—though a good commencement speaker will make you think you can. A speaker can be just as impactful by convincing you to change your small community.

9. Celebrate something every day.

When I was in my early 20s, I landed a job interview but was mindful not to get too excited. My mother, however, told me to get excited. “Celebrate the fact that you even got this far,” she told me. “It’s farther than a lot of people made it. They didn’t even get a call for the interview!” Big or small, successes are worth acknowledging and celebrating. And don’t ever compare yours with someone else’s.

10. Let people go.

Sometimes the only way your life is going to change is if you get certain people out of it.  Don’t be afraid to cut them loose.

11. Sleep.

I’m learning this the hard way. For years I’ve prided myself on just how little sleep I need in order to function. Friends and colleagues have been amazed.

My doctor isn’t impressed. This week I was prescribed medication for a skin condition brought on by stress on the body and lack of sleep. I fear that might be only the beginning of my issues. You have to take care of yourself.

12. Realize that life is really going to suck at times.

Illness, divorce, financial trouble, family conflict, failure. Life can be one big, ugly mess. Of course you will survive these experiences, but the key is to put them into perspective as a necessary part of your growth. Each experience builds your character and prepares you for the next challenge. Or, as my pastor is fond of saying, “When life keeps putting you through the fire, eventually you’re going to come out fireproof!”

13. College is over. Now your education begins.

Never pass up a chance to learn something new. Don’t turn down an opportunity just because it’s not what you usually do. Don’t ignore someone just because you disagree with him or her. Every experience and every person presents an opportunity to learn. Grab it.

T.J. Holmes is a journalist and TV personality. Formerly of CNN, he can currently be found at MSNBC, and his commentary can be foundonline. Follow him onTwitter.

This article originally appeared on The Root

Central State Welcomes Class of 2018 at New Student Orientation

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
WILBERFORCE—Central State University welcomed its class of 2018 to campus on Saturday, June 7 in one of four New Student Orientation dates scheduled for incoming freshmen students.

About 75 members of the class of 2018 (does that make you feel old?) arrived early at the 127-year-old historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio for a full-day event that the university says is important to student’s successful transition to college.

Starting at 8:00 a.m. with registration and ending at 3:00 p.m., students were able to register for fall classes, secure housing and meet other students in the class while parents were busy meeting with the leadership of the University, talking to staff, faculty and other parents, and asking important questions.

For more information about the New Student Orientation dates visit Central State University.

About Central State:

Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, is one of the nation’s oldest historically black universities, with a 125-year legacy of academic and athletic achievements.

Like ‘the Buzz’ on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.