I’m up this morning still in shock. I learned that I’d been selected as a White House HBCU All-Star for the White House Initiative on HBCU’s Cohort. I’ve wanted to represent as a White House HBCU All-Star since I found out about it when I was a freshman. It amazed me these tremendous students were chosen to represent and advocate for all HBCU’s in the nation’s capitol. They had a platform to confront issues on their respective campus’s. They were even able to network among themselves.

I dreamed of what I’d accomplished if I got selected. I envisioned the programs I would start and the causes I would put my support behind. To me, the possibilities were endless! However, I doubted myself. My second semester of my Freshman year I was going through the process of finding myself in a new environment. I was proverbially trapped in the pressure of the high expectations I had for myself, almost causing my downfall.

I didn’t feel as if I was ready to pursue being a HBCU All-Star Ambassador. The deadline came and passed and I didn’t submit my application. I thought that maybe the opportunity had passed me by. Then, I got a call from then SGA President Lawrence Malloy who offered me a position for his administration. After that, I found out that I’d be a Freshman Week Orientation Leader. Then, everything started to change!

My passion for my HBCU grew. I started to become involved. As I became more involved, I started to realize my strength: communication. My Twitter and Facebook pages were the spots for heated discussion on the direction of the school and fierce defense of our image. I promoted my Miss FVSU Candice Howard as she went on to be an Ebony Campus Queen (See: A Day In The Life Of A Campus Queen), continued our fierce rivalry with Albany State and even stood on the front lines as outside news organizations tried to come at us (See: Put Some Respect On Our Name: When Black Media Gets Out Of Pocket. The situation has since been amended and I’m perfectly fine with Stephen Gaither and HBCU Gameday. Wish them nothing but success!)

Randall with 2012 FVSU Alumnus and Oakland Raiders Star Punter Marquette King

Once again, I was determined to become an All-Star! I still had doubts but my big sister alumni and my “campus based mentor” Ashley Dolvin pushed me to so and made sure I handled the process the right way. She made sure that my two essays were perfect and that I fulfilled all my requirements before the deadline. Mind you, we pushed for this with Finals Week and Spring Commencement looming. I waited and waited until one random Thursday when I found that I was a finalist and that the Initative wanted to conduct a Skype interview with me. I was scared because I honestly didn’t expect to become a finalist and now right in from of me was what I envisioned for myself when I was a Freshman.

Tuesday rolled around and I was restless. I wondered what questions they would ask me and how I would respond. I heavily researched HBCU All-Stars of the past and even thought about a plan B if I didn’t get picked. Then, 12:00 rolled around with my interview being at 12:15 that afternoon. My Skype wouldn’t work and my internet went out. I panicked, not wanting to be late and soiling my opportunity without even saying a word. Luckily, I was able to get a phone interview. Boy, that was close!

The two weeks waiting to see what became of my selection had to be the longest in my life. School was just right around the corner after all. I started to seriously think about how life would be as an HBCU All-Star and I even started coming up with ideas as I waited to see what became of my selection. Yesterday, I got the most important email of my life. I’d made it!

Now that we’re here, let me make things clear. I plan to use my platform as a HBCU All-Star to represent my family, hometown, university and HBCU’s in general with the highest honor. I’m not here for photo-opps, money or attention. I’m here to do what I can to contribute to the national conversation about the viability and survival of HBCU’s. I realize through my position with Urban Intellectuals/HBCU Pulse and I Am Beautiful 365 I yield a megaphone that I can use to push out news given to me from the Initiative and other HBCU’s around the nation.

I pledge to use my platform and voice only in positive ways. Likewise, I will conduct myself properly in any situation, even if I’m in the situation of being in the same room as the Trump Administration or even the President himself. Being in this situation means that I have must be transparent. So, I’m going to use Urban Intellectuals and my social media to do just that. We’re going to chronicle this journey together.

I’m so excited for what we’re going to accomplish this year! I can’t wait to sit down at the table with other HBCU Leaders from other HBCU’s such as Howard, Morehouse, Spelman, FAMU, NCAT and even Fort Valley State University’s rival Albany State University! (No more PWI Jokes for now) I’m determined to increase visibility towards FVSU and increasing our levels of communication on campus. Likewise, I’m ready to protect and speak on behalf of ALL HBCU’s and use our collective platform to show the nation that we still matter. Also, even more, I’m ready to use Urban Intellectuals as the vehicle to drive the conversation in the Black Community about the beauty of our HBCU’s. They picked the right person for the job!