A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Drumbeats and Dreams: Navigating the HBCU Experience
The profound impact of HBCUs stretches far beyond education, creating generational bonds and cultural legacies that shape families for decades. This heartwarming conversation between Howard alumna Marlena Powell and her daughter Sinclair, who's heading to North Carolina Central University, beautifully illustrates how the HBCU experience ripples through time.
Sinclair's journey to NCCU wasn't just influenced by her mother's Howard connection but by witnessing the deep, decades-long friendships her parents maintained with fellow HBCU graduates. These relationships created an extended family of "play cousins" that showed Sinclair firsthand what makes the HBCU community special. Though Howard was naturally considered, Sinclair ultimately chose NCCU because it "felt like home" – a reminder that each student must find their own perfect fit.
As a jazz drummer who's studied since age eight, Sinclair's decision was particularly meaningful. Jazz, as her mother eloquently explained, is "a Black American art form that we created," making an HBCU the ideal environment for Sinclair to develop her craft under the guidance of Black professors who understand not just the music, but its cultural significance. For a young Black woman in jazz, having mentors who can help her understand her place within this rich artistic legacy offers something no other educational setting could match.
The conversation takes a heartwarming turn when Marlena shares profound advice for parents sending children to college: "We are not the pilot of the plane anymore... we're now the co-captain or the first mate." Her wisdom about allowing young adults space to make mistakes, solve problems, and discover their strength resonates deeply for any parent navigating this transition. As Marlena puts it, "If you're never making mistakes and we're always here to catch them, they'll never learn their strength."
Ready to support the next generation of HBCU students? Vote for our scholars before September 5th by texting or scanning the QR code shown during the program. Your vote helps these talented young people continue the powerful legacy of excellence at HBCUs across the country.
So, with her coming from an HBCU background, as far as family, how challenging was this process for you deciding for her to go to school and going through all the unique situations that come.
Speaker 2:You know it wasn't challenging at all. I mean, we, you know, we obviously grew up taking her to Howard homecoming and so she always had an opportunity to be around people that we went to school with, that we've been friends with for over 30 years. She's become very close with a lot of our friends who their kids and so they're like play cousins.
Speaker 2:You know, black people always have a play cousins right you go to hbcu and you stay friends with people for 30, you know, 25, 30 years. Their kids become your, your play cousins and and um. And so we always knew that we wanted her to go to an hbcu. But we wanted her to make the decision for herself and I think that because she saw how close my husband and I are to our friends who have become family because of the HBCU experience, I think it's what made her want to go easy. You know, of course Howard was a choice, but NCCU North Carolina Central University in Durham, north Carolina was what felt like home for her and so we're thrilled and we're excited and it was easy and I'm really excited about seeing what she does at Central excited about seeing what she does at Central.
Speaker 1:Yeah, awesome, awesome. I always remember all of St Clair's interviews because she talked about her passion for music and when I look at her, you know, I don't really get to see the graphics until they're actually like posted or they're circulating in the newsletter. I like she out here with her drum. I said, well, that's a deep love yes how, how do you mom, how do you feel like her? Being embraced with the hbcu culture will enhance that music ability oh wow.
Speaker 2:so that was. That's interesting because you know, there there were some PWIs that she applied to and got into some really top notch programs, but jazz being a black American art form that we created and she she's known this since she started studying jazz at eight years old it's like what?
Speaker 1:better place.
Speaker 2:Yes, eight years old, she's been studying, and what better place to go to than to an HBCU to continue to grow in an art form that we created, and so it was really important for her to study under professors Black professors who will teach her the. You know, it's something about what we put on stuff, what we put on our music and, culturally, you know the stamp on there.
Speaker 2:This next four years are really important and it was important for her to be in an environment that wasn't going to minimize the African-American experience and that was going to really, especially as a Black girl, as a Black girl drummer. It was also really important that she be around black people, black women in jazz, um, you know, people who can help her understand how she fits into the history and the legacy of this african-american art form, love it.
Speaker 1:I truly, truly love it. Now I I didn't I played instruments, but I pretty much did my voice when I got to college because, okay, you know, actually when I got to high school, because that marching band camp and all that stuff is not for the faint at heart, but you know, you can practice in the blazing hot sun. And we're all had songs everybody ain't able right.
Speaker 3:Right right right.
Speaker 1:That was the first thing I think I asked. I was like but you play the drums, You're going to be a marching band. She was like no, yes, no, no.
Speaker 3:No shade Like all power to them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a different yeah different.
Speaker 1:That was the first thing she said too. She was like no, I won't be doing that, I'm late, I'm out there. Hey, that's pretty good. Now what conference is? Are y'all in the same conference as Howard?
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, the MIAC.
Speaker 2:MIAC.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, are you?
Speaker 1:going to cheer for your daughter or are you going to cheer for your alma mater?
Speaker 2:I think that I'm going to cheer for my alma mater. I just, I mean, you know, like you.
Speaker 1:The side eye. That was just given.
Speaker 2:Sorry.
Speaker 1:St Clair, st Clair, you've been so sweet this whole competition. The side eye you just gave your mom, oh my God, sorry, we'll see, but our team, our football team, is better. Been so sweet this whole competition to decide how you just gave your mom.
Speaker 3:Oh, my God, we'll see, but our football team is better. Yeah, they are. We'll see who wins the game. She could root for who she wants, but my school will be the one.
Speaker 1:I'm so not experienced. Sinclair showed us nothing but the best mannerisms and everything, and to see this side of her is just shocking.
Speaker 2:She's competitive, she is competitive. That's what it is.
Speaker 3:In a good way, though.
Speaker 2:Yes, Are you?
Speaker 1:going to at least sit with your mom during the game, or are you going to be on your set If she comes to visit me?
Speaker 3:yeah, Okay, she'll come see me. But you have to be on my side. She has to be on my side.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yes, but they're not sitting out there for her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh, my God, that is hilarious. These young people are too much for TV today. Now, as as the previous, family well, families, plural are you going to allow your parents to go to homecoming? But, being that you know, sinclair has been the thousands of homecoming yeah. I think you know it's only fitting that you know your parents get to go to yours that's true, yeah, yeah, we're gonna come, we'll come I won't hover over her.
Speaker 2:I won't, I won't like yeah you know I won't follow her around and you know, expect her. No, I'm not gonna do that, but I'm gonna.
Speaker 1:I may come a visit, just to see, just to see what it's about yes it's. It's huge. That's a nice campus. They got good food there. I know I shouldn't relate every campus to by the food they have, but I think they do yeah, real good food there now you go to.
Speaker 1:You go to school shortly. Time is ticking. Yeah, in a week I'll be moved in. In the week you be moved in. Yeah, so, um, mom, as she's getting ready to move in, and what advice do you have for other parents that you know? I've talked to like 20 parents, um, that have called me over the span of this week because they are at the movie and stage and I get it, it's your baby. Some of them is their first, some of them is their only and, honestly, with some of the young people it's their first time away from home, like a black radius.
Speaker 1:So what advice do you have? You know, for parents. You know as you've made it through the whole year. Now you're at the end drop her off in school. So what would you tell parents?
Speaker 2:I would tell parents and this is a note to myself as well is that this is the time where we are not the pilot of the plane anymore. Right, we're not the captain of the ship and we are now the co-captain or the first mate. So if it's a ship, right, we're not the captain of the ship, but the captain has first mates and crew that helps them sail the ship. She now has to sail her ship. Right, she has to fly the plane. So I have to be the co-pilot, and that means sometimes keeping your mouth shut, you know, if it's not a high stakes sort of situation or a high stakes mistake you think your kid is going to make. Sometimes. We have to allow them to make decisions that we may or may not always agree with right, and to understand that some of what we can share with them will be useful. But some things aren't exactly useful because it's a different time.
Speaker 2:You know, I went to school 30 years ago, undergrad 30 years ago. You know, and we I mean even technology is different. You know how they use technology and the way they use technology, and we have to respect that. Their way is not always going to be our way. So the advice is that we have to let go in stages. You know, it's like if I text you, I need you to text me back and say I'm okay, I'm good, I'm here, I'm alive, right. But you know, allow them space to figure it out and to reach out and to call and and to allow them space to make mistakes, because the mistakes it's like falling forward, right, if you're never making them, if you never make a mistake and we're always here to catch them and always here to be a safety net they'll never learn how to uh problem solve, they'll never learn their own strength.
Speaker 1:So that's my advice that's good, that's that's really. I was in their process and like, oh, I might have to take some clips of that and send it to our parents for this upcoming year, because we start a class of young people every september well they have to deal with me for the whole school year in, yeah, hbcus, applying for school and all that, and I'm like the ones that's been giving me the most, like I don't know If I'm ready to drop my kid. I'll be like y'all drop your kid, y'all Little kid.
Speaker 2:I do. You have to trust that All that you have put in them 18 years, you know. What I do hope is that it's my voice that she hears when she has a big decision to make you know, or her, or for her father's voice, like what, what would she say, or what would she do? You know, um, so yeah, gotta do it, do it. This is where you know what's the saying. This is when, like, you put everything to the test, everything that you've learned.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So this is you know. So now this is the test. We'll see, We'll see, yeah.
Speaker 1:I truly, truly like that. She is ready, she is all in and she has a really big support system and, as our viewing audience know, that I get really. I think Sinclair was on here when my mentor came and he was like no, she is very into it, like she will make everybody win if she could. That's why we don't let her do anything right. That's honestly. I will like I do. That's just my personality, that's just me. I see young people doing something positive. They I got they back all day 10 times yes, but um, you gotta be proud.
Speaker 1:You know, say clair, you made it from all the way to 70 to top 20, like you've made consistently since throughout this whole process, and so I want to say congratulations to you for doing that. But I also want to tell your mom thank you for even allowing her to participate, because we don't make it easy for them at all yeah, thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, this has been a really good experience. I'm really impressed with my child, but I'm also really impressed with the other applicants, and listening to the videos is I'm just overwhelmed Like it's really, really impressive that they know how to articulate their goals and their dreams. It's a really good. This is such a great platform for them. Good, this is such a great platform for them. Interviewing skills, learning how to speak their mind and speak their dreams into fruition. It's just an amazing thing, thank you.
Speaker 1:We try. This is our fifth year. A lot of people, some people know and I make sure that the young people know this is named after my sister. This is our. Our whole family is involved yeah in this scholarship, because this is our way of still recognizing her, even in her um in her capacity.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we get excited. We do. Two events that I really get excited about every year is um the scholarship and our annual send-off, where we have a party and celebrate the young people. So, yes, that's awesome, but before we go, I have to ask this. I got to you like, come on, I'm ready. Um, if you look on the bottom of the screen and our viewing audience actually can see how they can actually vote.
Speaker 1:Okay, um, why, you know, should our viewing audience and supporters I don't want to say vote because they've been voting for it, but why should they continue to support and vote? Because you got till september 5th, right, voting cuts off, but why should we vote for your scholar?
Speaker 2:I think, aside from the fact that she's my daughter, um, one of the things that I am most impressed with, most impressed with Sinclair about and I can speak for my husband as well is that Sinclair is a she's disciplined, she is disciplined, she is. I've never had to wake her up in the morning. She would get up herself, set her alarm clock. She had to get up every morning at 5.30 AM to be at school. School, she was a musician, she was on the honor roll, she ran track for a state champion track team in New Jersey and it took a lot to do that.
Speaker 2:You know, I think sometimes we don't give our young people enough credit for how intense high school is now and it wasn't't as intense for us, but it's so competitive now and I think that, like she rises to the occasion all the time, she always does and she knows how to self-correct and course correct. Ninth grade was really difficult for her because she was coming out of COVID as an eighth grader who sat on Zoom all year and in seventh grade for half of the year.
Speaker 2:So for 18 months she was on Zoom and ninth grade was extremely difficult, but she matured and she buckled down and she really, really, really turned things around for herself in high school and I think she learned a lot from that. You know, not doing so well in ninth grade and then saying, OK, this is a goal I'm going to set for myself, I'm going to get on the honor roll, I'm going to get on the honor roll every semester I'm going to, I'm going to get this kind of grade in this class". All while practicing her discipline of music, all while running track, all while being the president of the Black Student Union at her school. And so I just think that when you give her something to do, she does it to the best of her ability.
Speaker 2:She's an amazing speaker, writer. She's a good, really really excellent communicator and writer. She's a DJ. She is a stellar, stellar jazz musician. She's a really great big sister and she's a good kid who has a really really strong set of friends, and I think that she would be honored to receive this scholarship. But she would also live up to the scholarship and who the scholarship is named after.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome. I get like almost teary-eyed to hear how the parents of this competition have like went above and beyond to express why they, scholars, should receive something. And I'm like, wow, you know, St Clair, that means mean you big shoes to fill now? No, I'm just playing, but I know you rise above the challenge. But every time I think about you and don't take this wrong anyway every time I think about you I'm like, oh, she could be the next Sheila E.
Speaker 3:She could be the next Sheila E. Yeah, that's the goal. That is the goal.
Speaker 1:Exactly. I'm like I gotta make sure some, you know some young people. I said names and they were like I don't even know who that is. So you're right, all right. You like duh doc. I appreciate that yes, that's a compliment I'm telling you, when I seen your, your graphic and you had the drum, that's all I could think of. I was like, okay. You got to start planning it.
Speaker 1:I wish you nothing but success in your journey in school. Again, thank you, mom, for coming on Now, before we go. You know it is only in true fashion of ending the show, tell us again where you are going and your name.
Speaker 3:So, again, my name is Sinclair Dena Powell and, in the fall, I will be attending the North Carolina Central University. And again, this is my mom, marlena Powell, and she attended the Howard University. The Mecca, the Mecca, yes.
Speaker 1:All right, guys. Thank you again for coming. I truly, truly enjoyed you too. Um this, this segment. You know the whole hbcu family. I can't wait to see the pictures of move-in day. Yeah if you are in this contest, or, if you have ever been a previous winner, uh, send us those, those move-in day pics so we can share them in the newsletter. Because Because I always like the before and after Our move-in is pretty basic. We just had the stars on the wall. That's how old I am.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:The dark stars on the wall and the matching comforters. That was the best we could do.
Speaker 1:Now they've upgraded it. Some of these rooms look like Taj Mahal, so thank you for coming and I have truly enjoyed you both. So, again, I'm your wonderful host, dr Monique Robinson, and we still have about 12 families left, but hey, get out there and vote. Make sure you vote for our scholars. This is an HBCU family, so you know where your loyalty lies. Well, in their household it lies, until they meet each other. But other than that, love is still there. So thanks you two, until next time. Bye guys.
Speaker 2:Bye, good night. Good night, thank you.
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Speaker 5:Tune in to A Better Chance for Youth television show with host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network, the television show dedicated to highlighting incredible students on their quest to change the world. Join us every week as we uplift the youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. Catch A Better Chance for Youth television show with host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network. Thanks for watching a Better Chance for Youth television show with your host Monique Robinson, the television show where we highlight incredible students in their quest to change the world. Join us each and every week as we uplift our youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. So until next time, God bless From your friends. On A Better Chance for Youth television show with your host Monique Robinson.
