W&M: More than what you’ve heard

I had the pleasure of meeting with a student earlier this week who was interested in W&M. One of the concerns he and his mother had was the support systems and the presence of African American males on campus. One of my favorite parts of my job is sharing with students my own W&M story. As someone who was very active in the multicultural community on campus as a student, I was pleased to talk about my experience as an African-American male on this campus. From AAMC (African-American Male Coalition) alone, I was able to share with this student how the support you receive at W&M can come from your peers as well as the faculty and staff. William and Mary must have done something right because I am starting my 8^th year at William and Mary (4 as a student and 3 professionally). William and Mary was not originally on my radar because I had only heard of W&M as an academically rigorous institution where you will not see many people who look like you. If I had listened to those things, I would have missed out on so many opportunities that W&M allowed me to have. As a student leader, I feel I left my mark on campus as an African-American male leader. W&M also gave me my first job in an area that I would have never experienced had it not been for a few of the mentors I had at W&M. William and Mary is more than what you hear. William and Mary is more than a place to get a good education. William and Mary is a place that embraces diversity and takes care of its students in a way that I do not think you will find at any other institution.

At the end of the meeting with this student and his mom, I asked if they had any additional questions and the son replied “no, I think I am sold.” Of course we were not the only school they were going to visit, but I think by sharing with him a little about my story and how W&M can be the launch pad for a student, and how there are people who share your interests and passions and look like you at W&M, I hope and anticipate that I will see his application come through this year.

– Randy Tripp