High School to College — A Big Step

I found out that graduating from high school and going to college was a bigger step than I thought. However difficult this step may be, it is an important one. It is a step one must take in order to provide his or her self with a better chance of succeeding in life.

I began my freshman year last September at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. It is a private four-year liberal arts college. One of the challenges that I've had to face so far in college is adjusting to my new environment. The campus undergraduate population is approximately 67% women, 12% minority and 2% international. As I am an African American, at times I have found it is difficult to find people or professors that can relate to me in class. It has been a shocking experience for me to learn that many people that attend my school have never interacted with an African American or any person of African decent in their lifetime. As a result, they have developed stereotypical ideas about African Americans.

This semester, I happen to be the only African American male in my classes, so I have found the need to go out of my way to try and dispel some of my classmates stereotypical ideas. Each time these situations happen, I hope by the end of the class I have been able to enlighten my classmates to new ways of thinking. Another thing I have found difficult, is that sometimes people look at me as if I am supposed to provide them with the whole African American perspective. However, I have to constantly remind them I can only give my perspective. / can't speak for all African Americans!

I live on campus, and I am involved in several different extracurricular activities. I have joined the Wheaton Improvement Association - the goal of the association is to improve the diversity on campus. The Association has been a factor in helping to diversify the academic staff— the school has hired five African American professors. I also was elected freshman class president. Being class president comes with a lot of responsibilities and I take the job very seriously. I realize many of my classmates look up to me and sometimes go as far as introducing me to their parents and friends as "Mr. President." I find that very hilarious when they address me by my title.

First semester went okay. I was able to get a 3.16 GPA. I know I could have done better.

This semester, I am taking five courses: International Politics, Africans on Africa, African American Originals, Basic Writing, and American Literature from the colonial period.

My advice to upcoming high school graduates is to visit and compare different colleges before you make that final decision to enroll in one. Don't be intimidated by my college experiences. I may be a minority at this school, but I have earned my classmates respect; after all they elected me their president. The first semester is always hard, but I survived it. I'm finding out, if you work hard in college you can do well.

Obinna 0. N.,
Class of 2003, Wheaton College

* Reprinted from Positive Teens Magazine Volume 2 Issue 2, Mar/Apr 2000

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