Let me set the scene for you right quick.

It was Senior year.

I was stressed out from never-ending AP Lit assignments, constant reprimand from my Yearbook advisor for not completing assignments, trying (and failing) to read a history book for the upcoming Black History Brain Bowl competition, and attempting to convince my mother that I didn’t need to take the SAT again.

To put it simply, I was at my wits end.

So, I pushed all my work to the side and started going through some college letters. You know, the ones you get in the mail saying “We’re interested in you!” but you know they just want you to apply so they can meet their diversity quota.

Yeah, those.

Anyways, my top 3 colleges at that point were the Auburn University, University of Georgia, and University of Florida – all excellent schools for my major, Broadcast Journalism.

I was determined to leave my hometown of Tallahassee, Florida and venture out on my own into the real world. That dream was nice and all, until I saw those tuition prices.

Whew. Jesus, be a lottery ticket, because I didn’t have $40,000+ to give to any university. I was lowkey salty about the $50 application fee, to be quite honest. I didn’t know what I was going to do.

But the Lord is always working.

As it turns out, Florida A&M University was coming to visit my high school that week, so, as any good journalist would do, I started doing some research on them. As a native of Tallahassee, I pretty much knew all there was to know about FAMU, in terms of their reputation. Over time, I had been convinced by others that FAMU just wasn’t up to par on a myriad of fronts, and that I should steer clear of that place.

But to my surprise, I was wrong. Dead wrong.

FAMU had, and has, a lot going for itself. The School of Journalism and Graphic Communications, better known as J-School, was especially poppin' thanks to the accomplished professors and hiring of the new Dean, Dr. Ann W. Kimbrough.

On top of that, I found that I was eligible for a full ride scholarship from the University, based on my test scores and grade point average. And coming from a single parent household, that was a huge deal.

I was instantly accepted into the University during their visit to my school, and I went ahead and applied and received the scholarship from FAMU.

Y’all are probably like “Well, they gave you some money, and the program for your major was decent enough, so what’s the big deal?”

Patience, young grasshopper.

Ultimately, I chose FAMU for the experience. If I’m being honest, I’ve always felt a slightly out of place, especially in school. Although I attended a predominantly black middle school, I was in the magnet program, which consisted of predominately white students, and it was an unspoken rule that magnet kids didn’t associate too much with the “general” students. In high school, this continued, as I found myself in my every AP and honors class as either one of three black students or the only black male student.

I saw attending an HBCU as a chance to connect with people who share my same struggle, understand how far we’ve come as African Americans, and the current responsibility we have as black people.

And frankly, I wanted to go somewhere that offered African American History as a required course, instead of an elective. I also wanted to learn about more than just slavery, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks in my history class.

Hm. Catch that.

This is all to say that attending an HBCU was the best decision for me and my education. I’m not saying that all black people should attend one – that’s unrealistic. However, I do urge every person of color to at least consider applying to one, even as a safe school, because you just never know. HBCU’s do have value, contrary to belief. They may not be funded by the state, or even be the most organized, but I can attest to the extra love and care you’ll receive from everyone you see; It’s the HBCU way.

And, there sure ain’t nothing better than Soul Food Wednesday.

So to that high school senior that's contemplating where they'll spend their next four years, an HBCU just might be the school for you.

Don't sleep; Stay woke.