The time has come. You’re actually grown-ish. Now It’s time to start adulting, but what does that even mean?

For this week's installment of WBL's College material, it was time to get "grown-ish" and talk all things about what it means to be an adult. Academy Manager, J'keyah Hull, was joined by Howard University Students: Murphy Jones, Sarai Arriola-Jacob, and Lazarus. Along with Langston University student, D'Aira Jones.

Hull and the panelists discussed the effects of the pandemic on their growth, and how prepared they are to enter the real world, given their hybrid learning experience from the past few years; as well as how college might’ve changed their plans for the future.

“My mom explained to me, ‘You don't wanna have a plan B you just wanna have a plan A, and when plan A doesn't work out, you go to another plan A,’” Lazarus said “If something goes wrong then we just change the plan, but we don't change our dream, we don't change our destiny.”

This episode also explored how college does not have to be everyone's traditional route to success; lessons learned outside the classroom are just as important in the real world as a degree from a credible university.

“It's good that you have the education behind your name, it's good that you have the JD or the MBA,” M. Jones said “but it's also good for you to have the personal experience where you've done the work before also behind your name.

Finally, the panelists also talked about how rejection is a part of life, and sometimes necessary to get you where you are supposed to be, they all shared how ultimately their rejections from other schools led them to Howard, where they are thriving.

“Long story short, rejection was the best thing to ever could’ve possibly happened to me,” Arriola-Jacob said, “I’m so much stronger because of it, I work harder now, I have so much faith in myself, and I’m so thankful for my HBCU for seeing the potential in me.”

College material is a free college mentorship program open to our academy students.

Our free arts summer camp begins June 26th in Washington, D.C. and online.