Abosede and Navia: GAs for The Kalamazoo Promise

My role is to support Kalamazoo Promise scholars in terms of researching best practices and implementing strategies to increase the persistence and retention of future KPS students. Also, I assist the current scholars set personal goals, success plans and in locating resources. My office ensures holistic support for Kalamazoo Promise students with acclimation, sense of belonging, and thriving at WMU.

After working for several years, I decided to advance my degree in education. I was fascinated by the fact that Western Michigan University’s College of Education and Human Development is famous for being one of the iconic teachers and school administrators institute in the United States. Therefore, I chose WMU. Also, I love Kalamazoo! The town it is a mixture of big city energy and a smalltown charm.

The most helpful and important support system I found here at WMU are my academic advisors. I am lucky to have two advisors, and both are amazing! They connected me with people at WMU and beyond. This really helped me in my acclimatization to WMU and the community in general.

The faculty here are really nice and caring. They listen when you have questions or queries, and they are willing to help as much as possible. 

My career goal is to be a leader who can assess problems and design solutions that will guide education into the future. After graduation, I am looking forward to practicing the skills and competencies I’ve acquired in graduate school and working as an intern. I would love to work in higher education or a non-for-profit organization.

In my role as the Kalamazoo Promise graduate assistant, I help students create personalized success plans and answer any questions they have regarding financial aid and their scholarship. Outside of my direct contact with students, I have spent an ample amount of time researching high-impact practices and strategies to increase the persistence and retention of Kalamazoo Promise scholars. We also assist students with acclimation and strengthening their sense of belonging to WMU!

I've known since the 4^th grade that I would have the opportunity to attend college at no cost. With free college on the table, I’ve always felt a sort of unspoken pressure or expectation to attend college. While I knew I had this amazing opportunity, I wasn’t always sure that I was going to actually go to college. My grandfather was pretty adamant that I go, and without his support and encouragement, I can’t say I would’ve gone. Being a Kalamazoo native who was unsure about college, I knew that staying local at WMU would be a good fit for me to test the waters. After completion of my first year, I decided to stay and finish my degree at WMU.

My experience with faculty in both undergrad and my masters has been positive. I would say I have been closer with the faculty in my masters just because we’re split off into specific sections and focuses- so I’ve worked with some professors more closely than others.

I would say that the biggest support systems during my time in undergrad came from my academic advisor and from the professors within the family science department. Now, within my counselor education program, I would say the biggest support system comes from our professors and from my peers in the program. Being a full-time master’s student is not for everyone, so to be surrounded by people who are enduring similar challenges as me and understand how difficult it is has been really comforting. 

I am a counselor education student with a focus in marriage and family therapy. That said, my career goals include getting into the field and practicing! I am still incredibly interested in working with individuals. Additionally, I have a large interest in working with people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Something that I’ve learned that has really stuck with me over time is something I’ve learned in my master’s program. We as therapists must accept whoever walks into our door (obviously unless they were dangerous). We can’t turn anyone away based on their race, gender, sexual identity, religion (or lack of), socioeconomic status, etc. Our clients will show up being their most authentic selves, and it is our job to check our own biases, negative thoughts, or judgements at the door. Our clients are the experts of their own lives. Clients may enter the room thinking they have everything to learn from the therapist, and nothing to teach. However, we have everything to learn from them about their lived experiences. I think if people in this world practiced listening more, they’d realize how much they could learn from the person next to them.

I love the sense of community I feel in my master’s program. It feels like our professors truly care and want us all to succeed. Also, feeling the sense of community and support from my peers has been incredible.