By Khamaria Cooper

Livingstone College: A Historically Black College in Salisbury on a campus you could probably walk in about 12 minutes.
Whenever people ask about my school, I get all kinds of questions:
“Khamaria, is your school an HBCU?”
“How do you pronounce it? LivingSTUN?”
“I’ve never heard of it. How long has it been open?”
And my personal favorite: “Why did you choose Livingstone?
”Yes, Livingstone is a four-year Historically Black College, it is pronounced “living-stone”, and we have been around since 1879.
But the best answer to “Why Livingstone?” I believe Livingstone chose me.

Since I was a child, the sitcom A Different World has been one of my favorite shows. It celebrated being unapologetically Black and proud, showcasing young Black students navigating college life at an HBCU, with the guidance of Black educators. The series sparked my excitement and curiosity about my future. From then on, I knew I would attend an HBCU, I just did not know which one.

That all changed on September 30, 2023, when I attended a college fair at my high school, Kenwood Academy in Chicago. I walked around the second-floor gym collecting pamphlets and pens, and listening to the usual “You can apply for admissions at…” speeches. But one school stood out: Livingstone College. Instead of treating me like just another student, they wanted to know my name, my GPA, my interests, and most importantly, what I hoped to get out of college.

At the time I did not know the path I wanted to follow, but I knew one thing: at that table, I was more than just a number, I was an individual. At that table, I knew Livingstone wanted to take a chance on me and saw something in me that I was still figuring out myself.

When I was awarded a presidential scholarship at the college fair , it felt like a golden ticket but I was hesitant to leave a familiar place that thrived on the city’s constant energy – where errands were within walking distance and buses ran like clockwork – but I knew it was something I had to do. I had a chance to live my lifelong dream. If I attended Livingstone, I would no longer be watching one of my favorite television shows, it would be in action, and I would be on the screen.

When move-in day came and I arrived on the campus it all hit me as I was getting validated by each department to receive keys to my dorm. The drive down the hill to Honors Hall gave me a slight moment to reflect. I watched the men of different fraternities help students

move their belongings, the eager smiles of optimistic students taking on their first year of college with the bittersweet expressions of their proud guardians, and the sight of Livingstone blue on merchandise and decorations. It settled in that this was actually happening: I was officially an HBCU student.

Though my major was undecided, the energy of the campus and its resources along with the encouragement of my friends, kept me engaged and wanting to figure out where I belonged. I was in no rush, I knew this was my time to explore and I knew I was where I needed to be.

Today, I am a sophomore at Livingstone College studying English and business. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA; serve as one of the two historian officers for the Livingstone College chapter honor society Alpha Lambda Delta; am a member of the Livingstone Creative writing club; and run and maintain a successful hair braiding business, Hazel Eye Productions.

I must give a standing ovation to the cast who guided me at the start of my journey—most notably Dr. Da’Tarvia Parrish, Director of the Livingstone Honors Program. She is the kind of mentor every freshman, and truly every college student, deserves. Tough yet nurturing, she has been a pivotal force in my growth. Dr. Parrish not only advocates for her students but also opens doors to opportunities we never imagined walking through. Her passion for building knowledge extends beyond the classroom into every space she enters. She is a true reflection of HBCU excellence.

There is something for everybody, and even if you do not know exactly where you are headed, Livingstone will help you find your way. Like a show unfolding season by season, you discover more about each character and yourself as the story grows.

So, to whoever is reading this, I encourage you to take a leap of faith and start living your own story, because one day it is going to be on you to tell it.