Welcome Letter From Verlisa Renee

Letter From Verlisa Renee:
Being an African American first-generation college student, I understand the struggles of adjusting to and navigating the college experience, especially when you don’t feel as prepared as you should. I also know how it feels to not have all of the resources you need to navigate college successfully, yet you still do your best to work with what you have to achieve the desired outcome, which is to graduate. It's not easy, and of course, there will be challenges, obstacles, haters, and everything under the sun trying to stop you, but giving up only gives them satisfaction and leaves you with regret that only you have to live with at the end of the day.

Despite what you think, I know you can do it. I did it even when the odds were stacked against me with the passing of both of my parents and being raised on the South Side of Chicago by my aunt, a single parent. Even when I didn't feel as prepared as my peers or felt inferior to those around me because of my skin color and background experiences, I still fought for my degree. Through it all, I had a goal that I was determined to achieve, and that was to graduate from college.

Making it to this point in your life is a significant accomplishment because you fought through adversity to get here. If you don’t get anything from this paragraph, know that you can succeed, even without all of the external resources. Everything you need to succeed is already within you. You just have to believe in yourself, trust in the process, and envision the best outcome.

I hope that this blog serves as a source of guidance and encouragement to you as you prepare for a successful college experience.
Sincerely,
Verlisa Renee