Dear Classmates,

To be truthful, I have been thinking a lot about my expectations for this college experience. It´s made me a little nervous but I’m starting to think that feeling this way is a good thing. I’ve never really had much expectations when it came to school. I just always did what I needed to do in order to go to the next step. However, for college, I’m expecting things to be different. I want my experience to be more intentional and meaningful. A big part of this is the idea of turning on my camera for class. The last year and a half has been very tough and turning on my camera for classes was the last of my concerns. But as part of becoming a more intentional student, I’m expecting to make that change. As for my instructor, I am expecting there to be a respectful mutual understanding of our role. I am expecting them to take accountability for the things they are responsible for, just like me.

LINEAGE

My lineage is the Krio people of Sierra Leone. My lineage is twisted. My lineage is strong. Another aspect of my lineage is music. Music makes me who I am in no many ways. Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan. My lineage is love. Music about love. Music made to make you feel warm inside. For me, it’s a way of being. I feel it in the way that I dress, the way I think, and even the clothes that I wear.