Avery Young , Kentucky State University- c/o 2015, English
Name : Avery Young
HBCU : Kentucky State University
Graduation Year : 2015
Major : English
Email : avery.young@kysu.edu
Where are you from? Who introduced you to HBCUs?*
I’m from Detroit, MI. I was first introduced to HBCU’s by my two cousins who went to Howard and Tuskegee. They had lots of stories and pictures, which appealed to me more than some of my other cousins who attended schools like Michigan State or University of Michigan.
Avery Young serving the community with fellow APhiQ members | Image Credit: Avery Young
Why did you choose an HBCU over a pwi?*
1. I’m in marching band, and the bands at PWI’s don’t have the same flair that HBCU’s do. I felt that this would be a much better fit for me personally.
My high school band director and my college director had a good connection, which got lots of scholarship money thrown my way and to others from my high school. College isn’t cheap and it was the best option for me to reduce the nightmare of student loans.
What is the story of your "experience" at Your HBCU given its heralded status as a stellar and prestigious institution?*
My dating experiences have been on all parts of the spectrum from clingy girls, to legitimately crazy girls and the bookworms. KSU has something for everyone, but if you don’t look for it, you’ll never find it.
"First time" experiences at your HBCU?*
I experienced a lot in high school, so there wasn’t too many new things for me personally. I did encounter my first legally blind person, who is one of the coolest people you’ll ever meet. I also encountered my first girl who I would label as “crazy”.
Who are the professors that have impacted your life in and out of the classroom? How did they do that?*
Dr. Carl Smith, the one and only choir director who dedicated 50+ years into the school. Although I can’t sing well, Doc was an inspiration and it shows through his students and how they carry themselves and their attitude about what they do. (featured in “What’s Up? with Merlene” blog)
Avery with his band mates at a football game! KSU! | Image Credit: Avery Young
Best restaurants on/near campus? Best dishes?
Applebees is pretty common, and a lot of organizations participate in the Dine to Donate through them, so people go support the various organizations on campus. Frankfort, KY definitely could use more restaurants, so anyone looking to invest in something like that should consider here.
College crush?
My college crush is a 22-year old from Indiana. My only issue is, I can’t ever seem to catch her standing still. We both seem to be pretty busy people so I’ll be running late to class and see her in the distance, or be waiting in line for the cafe and see her walking in an opposite direction. She’s pretty nice, and I always say HI when I can.
Ghost stories involving buildings or spots on campus?
Jackson Hall being the oldest building on campus is said to be haunted, but after a few ghost hunts at night, there doesn’t appear to be anything suspicious about it.
What is your major? and Why did you choose it?
English Education. I love to help people, and I believe in the phrase, “It’s better to build better children, than to repair broken men.” I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood, so I want to let people who look like me and grew up like me know that there’s so much more to life than the hood.
What to date has been your proudest moment @ Your HBCU?
Becoming a junior at my institution.
A lot of people don’t make it to that point and statistically, I’m more likely to graduate by making it this far, which is the end goal of college.
Where are the spots to go to if you wanted to cuddle with your boy or girlfriend?
The movie theater is a common date spot. I’m somewhat old fashioned because I believe in courting and taking a girl out.
What are the chants heard most often at the sporting events?
“I bet you won’t get crunk/turn up” The Turn Up change happened last year due to change in times, but there’s not a game that goes by without this.
Da Butt is also a song we play in the band followed by a dance break, the whole school gets involved and it’s also a sporting event tradition.
How are you positively active on campus? (e.g. clubs, SGA, etc.)
I’m involved with band, which takes up a lot of time. I also help out with APhiQ and their service efforts. I have a good relationship with the former and current SGA members, and I’ve helped them with events just out of the friendships I have with them.
Where is the “yard” located?
Outside of the student center, there’s a street cutting through the middle of it, to which at night, people used to blast a car radio and have a party, but the school has stopped that.
What and where are the historical places on campus?
Jackson Hall, the first building on campus where everything would take place. It’s the foundation for the school and it’s even on the emblem.
What to date has been your saddest moment at your HBCU?
My saddest moment was when I sought to pledge a Divine 9 organization, but my grades slipped going into that semester and I was denied because of it.
What is your process when you are going through a hardship that you have never faced before?
I usually relax, and take things a step at a time. People often fail when they panic or let their emotions get the best of them, but I’ve found that with a calm mind and rational thinking, anything can be done in nearly any amount of time.
How did you overcome your nervousness about going to college?
I made a lot of friends in band and a few people from my high school went to KSU with me, so I wasn’t completely alone.
Are you a member of a fraternity?
I pledged Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity in the Spring of 2013. I also seek to pledge a Divine 9 organization, although I’m not revealing it. However, I believe that the D9 orgs are a positive channel for continuing the legacy set by people with great mentalities from generations before us.
Describe a situation from your life where this proverb came to life or occurred “The person who grew up without correction will find his mouth slipping instead of his foot.”
This young lady I was pursuing seemed to be near perfect, but her attitude was bad, which I saw more of as time went on. She claims it to be real, but there is definitely a difference between “rude” and “real”.
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Kentucky State University
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Students: 2,159
Under Graduates: 2,025
Post Graduates: 134 - Athletics: Kentucky State University competes as a member of the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and indoor and outdoor track and field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball and volleyball.
- Notable Alumni: Yingluck Shinawatra - 1991 - The 28th and first female Prime Minister of Thailand** Moneta Sleet Jr. - 1947 - Photographer for Ebony, won a Pulitzer Prize for his picture of Coretta Scott King at the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.** Davey 'Wiz' Whitney - 1953 - Former head basketball coach at Texas Southern University and Alcorn State University. One of the winningest coaches in HBCU basketball. Inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame** Whitney M. Young Jr. - 1941 - Former civil rights leader, educator and executive; former Executive Director who led the National Urban League through its most prosperous period; served many presidential commissions including as a Vietnam elections observer in 1967**
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