MORGAN MOOREHEAD

Studies at Spelman College and Goldsmiths College, London

As a first year student, I always knew that I wanted to participate in the historically black college exchange program; I knew this because my mom, who attended Simmons College, and my aunt, who attended Smith College, both participated in the program and appreciated its meaningfulness.

Therefore, I was fortunate last year to spend my fall semester at Spelman College, one of the nation's oldest historically black colleges. At Spelman, I was able to engage my Afro-American studies background to understand my experience as a young black woman. One of my fondest academic memories from last fall was a course, "The Sojourner Syndrome," which focused on the health disparities that women of color in the United States face as well as the impact of those disparities on the life experiences for these women. It was refreshing to take a course that was centered on issues concerning black women in a context surrounded largely by black women—it highlighted both our incredible diversity and the relatedness of our experiences. The chance to study at a historically black college was definitely a rich and invaluable opportunity.

Second semester I studied abroad in London at Goldsmiths College. There, I took many courses that focused on British culture as well as one course that was most memorable: a class on London theatre. As part of the class, we saw a show each week, which was an engaging way to learn about "the culture of the city" and the history of the theatre. After traveling to Europe as a youth, I never imagined that I would study abroad in London and experience how my "blackness" and "Americaness" would be challenged and strengthened through this vastly different culture.

My junior year of bliss (as I like to call it) was the most precious experience of my college career and confirmed all the reasons why I chose to double major in Afro-American studies and American studies.

Morgan Moorehead is a senior double major in Afro-American Studies and American Studies.