Is America filled with only one race or ethnicity? Of course not. So, why would a historically black college and/or university contain only black students? Here at North Carolina A&T, one can find diversity; not only in the faculty population, but among students as well. Hispanic, white and Asian are only a few among the mix of so many more.

Fall 2008 marks a big change in enrollment proving to be one of the largest years of acceptance of minority students in a while.

Everyone has, at one time or other, experienced a situation where they felt like they were being watched or questioned because they did not look like those around them. For minority students such as David Safewright, a freshman computer science major from Thomasville, he feels that this is the place for him.

Hailing from a city not too far from Greensboro, why not UNCG or Wake Forest University or one of the other universities in the area?

"A&T is real good for my major. As far as computer science, it's one of the better schools," Safewright said.

Attending college doesn't just have to be about going to school with people who look like you, it's about the experience and getting the best possible education.

Another benefit, as each person interviewed pointed out, is the diversity experienced at A&T.

"You learn more about [diversity], which will help you more towards the work world," Safewright said.

Versatility is a huge trait that employers are looking for because they need people who can successfully interact with those different than them.

"The experiences [here] have ultimately taught me that you can have fun but also work hard for it," said sophomore and mechanical engineering major, Jordan Oritz, who is originally from the Republic of the Phillippines.

"Now I am more aware of what is in front of me and I can prioritize, helping things run a little smoother," he added.
For each of the students, a sense of closeness and a caring faculty has enhanced their Aggie experience.

"The professors are caring and want you to succeed. Although they are hard on you, they still are there when you need them," Ortiz said.

Junior and animal science major from Morrison, Colorado, Jessie Larson, has shared the same experiences through her years of attending A&T. "I have learned about that Southern hospitality and how friendly people are out here," she said.

"Coaches, professors, and fellow classmates are all looking out for me and true friends and family like that are hard to find."
Though a welcoming aura stands strong, there still linger small bits of opposition and question of why they chose to come here. As a student wrote last year about his concerns about everyone wondering if he attended UNCG, current minority students, at times, get the same response.

"There are many different views out there, and that comes with the territory," Larson said. "There are always going to be people trying to keep you down and point you out. I just keep my head up and go on my way."

Nonetheless, these students know that there are more important things to overcome than the small opinion of someone else. "It was extremely difficult to get used to the work load, but with the help of my peers and professors, I got through it," Ortiz said.

Socializing is great, but we must keep in mind why we're here. For these reasons and many more, even those who may not be black still appreciate what a historically black college university has to offer.

"This was a huge step in my life and I'm glad I took it," said Larson. "It taught me to be independent and go out and make friends; I had to start fresh and it taught me a lot."

Stacie Bailey writes for the A&T Register, the North Carolina A&T State University student newspaper, which originally published this article.

Articles in the Voices section represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not reflcect the views of Black College Wire.