“It is not taboo to go back and find that from which we came,” chanted hundreds of students.
“Again!” said Mama Thorpe exuberantly.
“It is not taboo to go back and find that from which we came,” they chanted louder.
This is the story of Sankofa; a story of learning from the past even as we move toward the future.
On Aug.13, over 200 new students gathered to hear the story of Sankofa for the first time at the annual Symposium for Multicultural Scholars.
For the past 20 years, the Symposium for Multicultural Scholars has embraced the African proverb of Sankofa and created a bridge toward the future for incoming first year students.
This year, the three-day symposium brought together students of diverse backgrounds to gather under one unifying theme – “the ties that bind.”
Nubian Message interviewed the professional staff to learn how symposium created community and belonging for multicultural students at NC State.
The Nubian Message: Why is Symposium important for first-year multicultural students?
Jameco McKenzie: Symposium for Multicultural Scholars is important for incoming students from all backgrounds, cultures and communities because it aims to create a sense of community and belonging. Coming to college could be a daunting experience. Still, through symposiums, we hope to help demystify the transition process. We do this through small group conversations, student success workshops and presentations, and one-on-one conversations with upper-class symposium mentors. Symposium helps make NC State, a vast institution, feel smaller and more manageable. It creates a feeling of home.
The NM: How has Symposium inspired you as professional staff, and why is this work so rewarding?
JM: On Tuesday, August 13th 2024 over 200 students and their families came onto campus for our opening reception and pinning ceremony. I can remember some of them being so shy and nervous. What really inspired me was by the end of the week-long experience was seeing unassuming students become engaged, meet new friends, come out of their shells and through one-on-one conversations say how it impacted them. It was very inspiring. It demonstrated that this program and the work we do in preparing our student leaders and the participants was purposeful and helped to create a sense of community and belonging for the student participants.
Charles Clark: This was my first symposium both in general and as assistant director of MSA, so this was a great opportunity to see how and why the symposium has had a major impact on our returning students. Having this experience, the symposium reminded me why I became an educator to begin with. I love working with and mentoring students on my own time, but to watch the mentors go and do the same for the incoming students makes my heart full and the things that I’ve taught them eventually compound over the years to (hopefully) change the world.
Trevis Belle: Symposium affirmed my commitment to serving the various student populations that exist at NC State. Hearing from the students throughout the week about how impactful Symposium is and even having those same feelings a week after symposium made those months of planning worth it. Hearing students say they feel in community with other students brings a smile to my face. The work we do has a purpose. The work we do is long-lasting and effective.
Gavin Bell: Symposium is always a powerful reminder of the importance of relationship and support needed to begin the semester. Relationship in regards to providing connection for the incoming students through the utilization of our undergraduate mentors, and professional staff as well. Support in regards to leaning on one another in the student success centers and our campus partners as well. All in all, the underlying importance of having genuine community in all that we do is reiterated during symposium.
Quashon Bunch: Symposium has been profoundly inspiring for me on a professional level. Witnessing the connections formed between students from various backgrounds is a reminder of the importance of community and collaboration on any college campus. Witnessing first-year students engage and embark on this new journey in their lives is rewarding and satisfying. This experience is a positive reminder that the work we do plays a pivotal role in guiding and supporting our students as they navigate and narrate their college experience. The enthusiasm and curiosity displayed by these students has strengthened my commitment to fostering an environment where student success is not only about academic growth but also about personal and professional development.
The NM: The theme of Symposium this year was “the ties that bind.” What is the meaning of this theme and its connection to goal of symposium?
JM: The theme of this year’s Symposium for Multicultural Scholars was the ties that bind; the theme was the brainchild of our administrative support specialist in MSA, Leslie Cochran, affectionately called Auntie Leslie. The theme personifies the connection between various cultures, identities and communities that our students come from and asserts that while we may all be different we all have a shared human experience. Through symposium and engagement with our centers, students are able to see the connections between their differences and find community and a sense of belonging that will help them make friends, and know that NC State is a place for all students to thrive and that it is filled with many resources and opportunities.
The NM: What advice do you have for students transitioning from Symposium into everyday life of NC State?
Staff: I would share that:
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- It’s important to remember the story of Sankofa that was shared on the opening night. It is not taboo to go back for what is at risk of being left behind.
- Remember that you are not experiencing this college journey alone, there are peer leaders, and many professional resources like our centers – Multicultural Student Affairs, African American Cultural Center, Women’s Center and the LGBTQ Pride Center that are here for you, and all students on our campus community, to help you move from surviving to thriving.
- Join our MSA Peer Mentoring Program or take the Multicultural Leadership Challenge to stay connected to MSA and symposium participants.
- Know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but it shows your strength and the strength of our NC State Community.
- Take breaks and pace yourself, it might be intriguing to do all the things within your first few weeks, but take time to plan and discern what you really want your college experience to be like and engage in activities that allow you to be your truest, best self.
- Find your community and check in on your friends. Be in a club or organization, study group or intramural sports, find a community of people who you value and who values you. You all don’t have to think alike or believe the same things, but having a community is important because it helps you not go through this year alone and know that there are other people who have experienced the same things you might be dealing with.
Know and remember that you belong here and even when things get tough, there are so many within the campus community that want to see you succeed. Reach out to https://wellness.ncsu.edu/ to learn about the many campus supports and options that are open and available to you.
