Keep your family closer

Sorry for the delay in posting! I promise to get better at this!

Tip 2: Keep your family close and closer....

As you begin the transition process to college mode, you may realize that you are becoming more anxious to leave home and start life on your own. It's okay, it's natural. But remember, it is your family's support and vision that has helped you even get to where you are today. African households are already extremely family oriented but do not find their involvement as a nuisance, but embrace for what it is-- and that is love. Mom may be bothering you about what you have to do, she may have even humored you with the "what not to do whilst in college" speech already too. Oh yes, and she's probably dropped the hard-not-to-laugh-at-her-accent speech on sex as well. Take it. Listen. And remember. Your family loves you and is so very proud of you. They will be so sad when they drop you off at school. They will be even more hurt when you trade in your free weekends for hanging out with the boys instead of coming home to hang out with your little brothers. So begin to embrace every moment with your parents and family members. Try to find little things to do together. Pull out old pictures to laugh and reminisce. And if you build the courage, go to their room and thank them for all that they have done for you and the love that they have shown you over the years.

That, they will never forget. And nor will you.

M

Guiding the Journey Radio Interview on Akwaaba Radio

Here are some behind the scenes shots of Clarissa and Janet, Guiding the Journey co-founders, at the Akwaaba Radio Station live on air!

So You Think You're Ready For College?

Hello one and all,
I pray that my posts won't be as sporadic as it has been lately. I have come up with a new series that I think may interest you! Ya think ya ready for college? So you got the acceptance letter, you said "yes"! It may have been your first, second, or even rebound choice but praise the Lord, it don't matter-- you're going to college.

The hard part is done right?

I mean, the SATs complete? check
Application and recommendation letters sent in? check
College Tours? done

Now what?

I hope this series will provide you with the answers to the insurmountable questions that may be bubbling up within. Mom and dad are not making easier on you because all of a sudden, you're supposed to have the answers... Yeah, about that....

I don't have the answers, but I have insight. Let's get started.

Series Entry 1: Make it to graduation, please!
Now, I'm not saying your not going to graduate from high school, but you and I know, senioritis kicked in way back in second quarter. Doesn't make it much easier now that you have the letter that states, "ready, set, GO!" With the resolution to your high school career about to come to fruition, I just want to suggest that you stay as focused as possible. I have heard horror stories of students who have gotten their admission letters revoked because of their stupendous decline in grades. As a result they had to fight to regain admission or deal with being the kid who almost got in college. Senioritis is real folks and it can take control of your whole life: academic and personal. You may find yourself becoming more (yes, it's possible) engulfed in social networks and hours of study time on the phone. I say, be careful. The habits you build now can either make or break you in regards to preparing for college. What I mean is, adopt the college mentality now that you are practically a college student. Identify the weaknesses in your life and see how you can practice turning them into strengths while it's easier you can. Now's the time to examine your study habits, your social habits, time management and the like. You will have more time to develop this once you're on campus, but it is never too early to start. Congrats on getting in, but what will make it all the worthwhile is finishing strong. Enjoy these last few months as a senior and take in as much knowledge, skills, and good habits as you can. Test yourself and see how you can make mom, dad, and ultimately yourself, proud. Fight for the cure, because really, you'd want to care about your academic health. College is too expensive.

 M

Pledge to be your BEST

A PLEDGE TO MYSELF

Today I pledge to be
The best possible me

No matter how good I am
Know that I can become better

Today I pledge to build

On the work of yesterdasy
Which will lead me
Into the rewards of tomorrow

Today I pledge to feed
My mind: knowledge
My body: strength
and
My spirit: faith

Today I pledge to reach
New goals
New challenges, and
New horizons

Today I pledge to listen
To the beat of my drummer
Who leads me onward
In search of dreams.

Today I pledge to believe in me!

Reprinted from the book, Don't QuitBy Mychal Wyn, 1990

Enjoying the Journey: Your New Guest Blogger, Mabe (the babe) lol

Hello One and All!

I am soooo honored to be invited to guest blog on this site. As a friend of the originators, I cannot begin to commend them for developing such an idea for young African (& American) students in the VA area....

I am going to use this space to be forward and detailed about who I am, what I do, and why I am writing. I tend to be longwinded and some folks say, dramatic, but I will be as candid, honest, and myself as possible in this introductory post. My name is Mabel, I am a 20-something Ghanaian-American female-- born and bred in Virginia. My parents migrated to the States in the early 80's and popped me out a couple of years later. My story is not unique but it is so special to me... I am the first born, which I believe contributes to my sappy motherly behavior and instincts. My parents have been divorced since I was a wee toddler and I have lived with my mother, my step father and my half-siblings for the majority of my life. I was brought up to be a triple G-- a Good Ghanaian Girl. I will develop this term in a later post and how it overall relates to the choices I have made in life. I was the ever respectful and compliant child. I barely argued, hardly talked back, rarely requested for anything that had to do with youthful pleasure. In return, I got admiring respect from adults, a fairly drama free life, and a disheartening issue with self identity. I am proud to say that I have since conquered most of my fears and continue to deal with strengthening my self confidence. However, this truly began when I decided to be real with myself and pursue a passion that fit my standard of success and happiness-- and no one else's.

I went to college. I studied English. I became a school teacher.

In 2005, to the quiet dismay of my parents, I announced I was not going to pursue a law degree when I went to George Mason; I was to instead pursue an English degree in hopes to become an English teacher. My mother nonchalantly said she always wanted to be a teacher and was not surprised. My step father whined and bemoaned that I was wasting my intelligence. My daddy refused to tell friends, family, and co-workers that his daughter was going to college to become a mere teacher. I pushed through anyway. I enjoyed my major, brightened my education resume by teaching at summer camps, and got a full time teaching job shortly after grad. But according to the GGG mantra, it wasn't supposed to go that way. Being the compliant child that I was, I was supposed to follow through with the plans my parents set before me. That included pursuing a lucrative career that will surely bring prestige and pride; nothing having to do with passion and insight. So going against the grain at moment's chance probably scarred my relationship with my parents and has caused me to wonder if they are truly proud of me... become a bolder, stronger role model in my household.:)

But such moves and thoughts was enough to encourage me to start a journey. I was to step out on a path of self awareness that never crossed my mind until I got on a college campus. I forced myself to take risks, meet new people, enjoy my academic pursuit, in spite of the haziness before me. Mind you, as a compliant child, I never considered my own dreams, interests, or passions. I just knew what was expected of me and went with it. So even the choice of becoming a teacher was frightening for me because mentally, I only saw myself as a lawyer. But emotionally, I felt like a teacher. I was a keeper of knowledge and a sharer of ideas. And going with my heart lead me on my journey and it is still guiding me......

Welcome, again, to Guiding the Journey. I am here to assist those who want to know what it takes to get to college; those who need assistance in making an academic career choice; those who just want to know that they are not alone. I aim to promote the pursuit of education and happyness with my findings, learnings, and sharings. Come with me as I clear the path!

Mabel (Ama Kyei is my web name,  ha! )

Why Guiding the Journey?

I don't know about you but I felt lost my last years of high school. Everyone seemed to be going somewhere. Had something to do, somewhere to be. College admission letters were coming in for a lot of people and I still had no clue. The whole college admissions process was a mystery to me--a dark shadowy hole.

If this sounds familiar, then you can relate. I was born in Virginia. I went to elementary school, some of middle school and high school in Maryland. I had friends, but no one really talked about SATs, the college application process or even going to college for that matter. So, you can imagine my confusion when all of a sudden, everyone seemed to be going to a University and they all seemed to be excited about it! I wanted to be excited too. But I couldn't shirk the disappointment I felt when my name and prospective college wasn't on the board I passed in the hallway on the way to AP Modern History class each Wednesday at school.

I was smart. I was in AP history for goodness sake! I was a bookworm. A nerd. Why wasn't I going to a four year university too? It really wasn't entirely my fault. In hindsight, I know why starting the college application process wasn't intuitive to me. I was raised my mom. She is from Ghana and she has always had big aspirations for my brother and I. But in chasing the American dream, she worked herself to the bone. All the time. Sometimes two jobs simultaneously. My mom (and all my relatives) just assumed I'd be going to college after high school. But no one really knew what steps I had to take to get into college or, for that matter, when to start the process. Who knew the college application process started the summer before 11th grade?! I certainly didn't. And I know I'm not alone.

I'm happy to share more of my journey in the weeks to come. But honestly, programs like Guiding the Journey are vitally important, and I wish it was around when I was in high school. Guiding the Journey is for people like me who aspire to go to college and have everything it takes to go, but need direction in how to get there.

It's also an organization that understands some of my cultural hangovers. Because they understand where I'm coming from, they help folks like us figure out how to deal when parents insist that you go to medical school at Harvard, when you want to take a shot at George Mason's modern dance program. "Wahallah!"

I'm interested in hearing some of your stories and challenges. Leave 'em in the comments section.