BALTIMORE, Md — In 1997, Lawrence William observed an issue. Schools have been solely telling college students about sure faculties and universities.
“They expose lots of our kids to the native college to Notre Dame to Maryland to Loyola, however that HBCU half was lacking,” says Lawrence William.
So, he created ‘Caring For Young Minds’,. Every yr for the final 26 years, they take college students on journeys throughout spring break to go to HBCUs alongside the East Coast.
“These youngsters in the present day are youngsters that need to see, contact, and really feel, and publicity is the best solution to educate a toddler in the present day on any subject material that you just’re making an attempt to show them.”
Junior Kelly Jenkins is certainly one of 160 college students taking the week-long tour.
She says she is worked up to see a wide range of Historically Black Colleges and Universities as a result of her mom went to 1.
“I really feel like being with folks that seem like you and act such as you could be very influential and useful for you in the long term slightly than being someplace the place you’re feeling such as you’re misplaced or uncomfortable,” says Kelly Jenkins.
Jenkins says happening a visit with different college students can also be a distinct expertise from visiting with household.
“Being in a position to tour so many colleges goes to offer a greater perception [into] what college life is definitely going to be like, and also you’re not going simply by your self or along with your dad and mom, you are going with youngsters who’re your age, who seem like you, so you actually get an concept of what it’s actually going to be like,” she says.
Not each pupil is aware of what an HBCU is.
“I wished to broaden my views of different colleges, you recognize, what they’ve to supply, what they don’t, how large [the] campus is, and what I can do at that college,” says Raheem Adeyiga
Adeyiga’s household is from Nigeria. He says he didn’t know a lot about Historically Black Colleges and Universities rising up.
“I not too long ago really acquired launched to HBCUs, like possibly my freshman yr of highschool.”
He tells WMAR he’s thrilled to go and already has a college in thoughts, North Carolina A&T.
“It was very fascinating to see individuals like me go to varsities like that,” says Adeyiga.
He desires to be an engineer, so he hopes to seek out an HBCU with the very best program.
He says it is necessary for all college students to go on college excursions as early as potential.
“It might educate you, like the place you need to go, possibly how do you make pals within the system? How do you just like the place,” he says.
William shouldn’t be solely exposing college students to more college choices, however he’s additionally hoping to alter their outlook on their training.
“Sometimes simply exposing a toddler to a distinct optic. They come again to highschool, and so they change,” says William.
The HBCU tour begins Saturday. They will kick the tour off by visiting Bowie State University and Howard. Then HBCUs in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia earlier than returning dwelling subsequent weekend.
