I hope that by sharing one of my most vulnerable moments in life that you can find support instead of suffering alone. Take care of yourselves, and take care of each other. We’re all in this together.

The “What If” question is a starting point — it allows high school counselors, college advisors, parents, relatives, and friends to then explain how bringing those aspirations to life requires education, training, and experience.

Reach Higher has been my home for almost four years, and I will value everything I have learned during my time here. I know I am leaving Reach Higher in good hands and that the future of the organization will continue to celebrate the power of higher education.

I, like many other educators who are vaccinated, find ourselves at a moral and ethical crossroads. We went from being applauded and celebrated at the beginning of the pandemic to being accused of being lazy, unmotivated, and selfish for making decisions based on CDC guidelines.

As a high school student attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) with a graduating class of 350 students, it was difficult to feel like I belonged there as a black woman.

I was told that my first year of college would be difficult, so I prepared myself to face academic challenges; however, I never anticipated it to be mentally and emotionally challenging too.

As we launch the 2021-2022 application this year, I can’t help but reflect on last year’s challenges, how Common App and the higher ed community at-large confronted them head on, and how the lessons we learned can propel us forward.

I know I’m not alone in my experience: Research shows that students of color and first-generation students have a lower sense of belonging than white students.