Last week, Chicago rapper Chance the Rapper released his new mixtape "Coloring Book." The tape has received acclaim by critiques for its unique blend of hip-hop, gospel, and lyricism. A song on the tape, “Same Drugs,” initially was perceived to be a song about drug use but is actually symbolic for the growth someone undergoes as they age. Chance demonstrates this message with lyrics referencing the popular 1991 movie "Hook," an adaption of the classic story Peter Pan. He uses lyrics such as “When did you change? Wendy, you’ve aged.”

Once I learned songs message, I began to reflect upon my time at Howard University and how I’ve grown as an individual and most importantly a scholar. As many college freshman experience, the transition to a collegiate atmosphere can be daunting as it was for myself. I was eager to starting my collegiate career but I was also anxious moving across the country, leaving my twin brother and the rest of my family. So, once I stepped onto Howard University’s campus, I challenged myself to grow in all aspect of my life. First, I decided I need to grow spiritually and I did so by becoming active in my school religious life organizations like the Howard University Chapel Assistances. I came to the decision that I needed to be apart of a religious organization after noticing the trend of many college student not attending church on a regular basis while they were in college. I knew that I could not grow individually if I did not make God my first priority as a college student. This decision led me to a multitude of opportunities, from hearing influential speakers such as Michael Eric Dyson to strengthening my spiritually by incorporating God in my daily decisions.

Second, I challenged myself to grow socially. Having an introverted personality, I usually did not challenge myself in interact with my peers on a continuous basis. However, I quickly realized I would not have as enjoyable a collegiate experience if I did not have a social set. So, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and became more social. This led me to gaining valuable experiences with friends that challenged me intellectually and spiritually.

Third, I decided to surround myself with determined people. I know if I wanted to grow academically and socially I needed to surrounded myself with people who were serious about their academics but also held similar values as myself. This led me to a group of friends determined to reach their goals and stay within God’s path rather than focusing on the next party. I am proud to say all my close friends have high GPA's and are interning within their respective areas of study for the summer. We all are also active in campus religious life.

Lastly, I challenged myself to grow as a scholar. I heard consistently from fellow peers how it would be a challenge to maintain a certain GPA and balance an active social life. So, I set a goal for myself to finish freshman year strong and eventually graduate magna cum laude from Howard University. Despite the stress and occasional L on an assignment, I remained determined to reach my goal and I am proud to say I finished my freshman year with a cumulative 3.57 GPA. The moral of the story is never be afraid to challenge yourself and become a you. Growth is one of the most challenging things anyone can do but once you cross that threshold it’s well worth it. I will continuously to challenge myself throughout my collegiate career but will also challenge incoming freshman and continuing students to do the same. The decision to do so will be well worth it.