A 3.8 Scholar Aims To Redefine Care For Black Mothers

Start with a simple challenge: name a Black history figure who isn’t on your usual list. From there, we open the door to a bigger story—how community, culture, and purpose shape a student’s path to college and a career that can save lives. We spotlight a senior with a 3.8 GPA who’s HBCU-bound, narrowing choices to three schools and setting her heart on Houston Tillotson University. She wants to become a certified nurse midwife, and she’s clear about why: Black mothers deserve to be heard, respected, and protected in the moments that matter most.

We talk through the real factors behind her decision—cost, distance, family support, and belonging—and why an HBCU environment offers the mentorship and cultural affirmation that can carry a student from first-year nerves to confident clinical practice. Her purpose is personal, sparked by a family health scare that illuminated the gaps too many women face. She’s ready to meet those gaps with evidence-based care and a voice that advocates early and often. Along the way, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and share a listener challenge to go beyond the “famous five,” lifting up icons like Sam Cooke and the countless builders whose names don’t always make the headlines.

Community power drives this episode. We highlight active campaigns—People’s Choice voting, Icons fundraising that splits proceeds between A Better Chance For Youth Futures and selected colleges, and scholarship drives that open doors for students who are doing the work. Our senior is already mobilizing her network with posters and shares, and we invite alumni—especially from Houston Tillotson—to step in with support, mentorship, and resources. If you care about education access, maternal health, and the future of equitable care, this is your moment to help a worthy scholar cross the next bridge.

Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves HBCUs or healthcare, and leave a review to boost our mission. Your vote and your gift can turn one student’s plan into community impact.

Transcript

Opening And Mission

Monique Robinson 0:22

Welcome to a better chance for you television show with your host, Monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate, and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community, and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity. An opportunity for hope in the future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of a Better Chance for Youth show with your host, Monique Robinson. Welcome, welcome, and welcome, guys. It has been a very, very busy um Black History Month already. So if I haven't told you formally, or if you just haven't been told by anyone, happy Black History Month. And did you know this year marks a hundred years that we have been celebrating Black History Month. So thank you, Carter G. Woodson, for creating such a wonderful thing. So my challenge, I always have a challenge. My challenge for everyone is to learn about someone that is not the famous five. Okay. Learn about someone that's not the famous five. And if you don't know the famous five, think about the five black history facts that you already know. Challenge yourself to learn something new. All right. Now here I go with the clap. But um if you have been watching our pages, we have officially started two campaigns. One is voting for your favorite people's choice person award, business category, what have you, voting for that. And then the second one, our icons are just simply amazing. Now each one of our icons, all um let me say this right, all of our icons, including the one that will be a uh memorial type thing, have chosen or have you know opted to participate in a second competition where they will be raising 50% for a better chance for you futures incorporated and the other 50% for the college that they have selected. I will be posting those on various platforms, but I don't want nobody's hire. I don't want anybody to think I'm cheating, but we do have a contestant um icon, not contestant, icon, who is actually raising funds for St. Philip. So if you are in San Antonio and you want, you know, your icon to place, I would heavily say, you know, support Mayor Janisha Grider and she is collecting for St. Philips. Now, I think that's all the announcements. Oh, one more. Thank you uh to in the eye of the beholder, our gallery, and curator and uh Maria Williams and Dream Week. They had a fabulous time with the families, but you will see them soon, trust me, because they did so good. I said, I gotta bring y'all on. Nobody will believe what I witnessed our young people of San Antonio and surrounding areas do this past Saturday. Now, after this commercial, I will bring on our guest. Now, today's guest, y'all know, she is uh one of our seniors that is in the program this year. She's in our group chats, simply brilliant scholar. This year we have some of the most amazing kids. Um, I don't know what caller kids, young adults, and it's just watching them grow from September to now has been truly a blessing. Now, last week we highlighted um one of our other seniors. This year, this week we have another senior. I couldn't spit it out, my bad. But we also, you know, in our contest this year for um the HBCU community people's choice awards, icon and people's choice awards, we have a category for HBCU bound scholars. And you know, this category is amazing this year, and I know I keep saying amazing, and my vocabulary is actually bigger, but anyway, this year our goal is to award scholarships to our winner in the HBCU bound category. So cross my fingers that you all help us reach that goal. But guess what? There goes the link for Gimplify. So if you are watching and you want to sow a seed, we are a 501c3 public charity, and your donations are tax deductible. After this commercial, I will bring on my guest, and I am so glad that she is coming here to sit down with me and talk about how this college process is going after this.

SPEAKER_04 5:42

Are you interested in attending an historically black college or university? Hello, my name is Robert Bailey. I'm president and founder of the Copy Black College Application. Our application allows students to apply to over 50 historically black colleges and universities at the same time for only$20. HBCU graduates have been some of the most renowned individuals in their respective fields since the LED. In addition to that, our faculty and staff are truly committed to your success and they have the vested interest in standards. That coupled with the academic rigor and the fact that you accept lifelong relationships are just some of the many benefits of your attended and historically black college university. So if you're interested in completing the Common Black College app, visit our website, the CommonBlack College App.com to apply now. Thank you and get educated.

Senior Spotlight: Goals And College List

Monique Robinson 6:41

Welcome back. Welcome back. I told you I was gonna have a guest after this. So welcome to the show, Miss Adam. How are you doing today? I'm doing well and you. I cannot complain. Uh it's a little cold, but not as cold as it's been. But how how is that senior year coming?

SPEAKER_06 7:01

Um, it's going good, stressful, but it's going good, and I'm pushing through pushing through.

Monique Robinson 7:08

All right. Now, how's that college decision process going?

SPEAKER_06 7:13

Um, the college decision process is going good as well. Um, I dialed down my colleges down to three. My top one will be Tilton Hillston. And um that's my main one that I really want to go to because it's close to home. But it's going good. Yes, ma'am.

Monique Robinson 7:34

Okay, Houston Tillerson. Okay, I know sometimes you get nervous and you you start. It's okay. I told you we hey, it is okay. We're having a conversation. So Houston Killison is your number one because it's in Austin. You don't want to go away, like far away.

SPEAKER_06 7:49

Um, I thought of that, but like it costs money and something I don't have. So um, no, I want to be closer to home and um be with my friends and family and stuff that's here with me. And it's just easier that way.

Monique Robinson 8:08

To be close but not far at the same time, yes, ma'am. That makes sense. That makes sense. So that means that you know we can just drive up a check on you if we need to see what's going on. Yes, ma'am. Like, oh no, and think that so when you uh what is gonna be your major when you go there?

SPEAKER_06 8:26

Um, my major, I will be majoring in nursing because I want to be a certified nurse midwife. Oh that's what I'm going to be. Um, that's what my major is going to be. And um, yeah, that's pretty cool.

Monique Robinson 8:43

What made you want to go into that?

Why Nursing And Midwifery

SPEAKER_06 8:46

Um, well, basically, um, the past like three years, no, four years, um, my sister, my baby sister was born, and while my mother was having her, she had this disease. Um, I forgot what it's called, but um it messed it messed with her heart. And um I just feel like I will be one of those nurses to help women prevent that from happening before it happens. And not a lot of black women in hospitals get heard as much as other women do. So I want to be the um person to speak for those people when something's wrong with their bodies. Yes, ma'am.

Monique Robinson 9:37

That's really good. Um, I I like that you know you have a unique field, and actually, um, Houston Tillison is one of the schools that have won uh alumni chapter of the year, not I think it was two years ago, and they kind of like broke our machines with the voting, but they got some some some powerful alums. So if you are a graduate of Houston Tillison, I know Miss D, um DJ such and such is a graduate and uh powerful alum. Please help out our scholar here. She is trying to navigate there, and I know she needs scholarships and funds. I'm just saying. So after this commercial break, I am I got some more questions for you, but we're gonna take a quick, quick, quick commercial break, okay? Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

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Monique Robinson 11:30

Welcome back. I am here with Adam Wiggins. She is one of our seniors that is actually in a better chance for you scholars on the move, but also um, we didn't really get into this. Autumn, um, you do know that you are up for an award this year, correct? Yeah. Now, how does that then make you feel? Because right now you're currently ahead by a couple of votes.

SPEAKER_06 11:54

Um, it makes me very excited, actually. I was surprised that I was ahead at first when I first heard, I was like, wow. But it's really exciting and nerve wracking a little bit, but it's exciting.

Monique Robinson 12:07

Oh wow, so why should why should somebody vote for you for the um HBCU bound scholar of the year?

Awards, Voting, And Outreach

SPEAKER_06 12:14

Honestly, I think y'all should vote for me because I feel like if I have the right funds for um what I want to do, I believe I can help um change um the world and like change how people see black women in hospitals and different things. And I feel like it will be a great investment because I would be um working up to the point where I want to be in life.

Monique Robinson 12:50

Oh wow. So that is simply amazing. And I, you know, I don't have a dog in a fight, so I am not I'm not voting for anybody, but however, I do see the votes and we do tabulate the votes a lot, but I am extremely proud of you. But you know, uh voting stays till till May. So how did how have you have you shared it with like family and friends?

SPEAKER_06 13:30

Um, I have shared it with my friends and family, and I told them to share them with their friends and family and everything. So hopefully like they do what I asked them to do, but um um, but yes, I have shared and um I made like a big poster about it and everything.

Monique Robinson 13:49

So yeah, a big poster. Yes, where did you put your poster at?

SPEAKER_06 13:55

Uh I put it on on my Instagram and I shared it with all my friends and family, so they can let me see that.

Monique Robinson 14:02

Yes, well, that is we gotta go to commercial break. You got it with you.

SPEAKER_06 14:07

Um, not with me right now, but I can see.

Monique Robinson 14:09

Oh Lord, you gotta tag me in that. That is hilarious. But you know what? Hey, it it it might help you get more votes, who knows? But I truly, truly, truly appreciate you taking time out your busy senior schedule. You ready to graduate?

SPEAKER_06 14:26

Yes, ma'am. Really ready, yes, ma'am. I am ready.

Monique Robinson 14:30

Why are you so ready to graduate?

SPEAKER_06 14:34

Oh well, one reason why is because I'm kind of tired of testing a lot, like it's every week, and I'm just uh I'm just ready to see a new scenery and meet new people, and I'm just ready to get out of where I'm at right now.

Monique Robinson 14:52

Okay, that's fair, that's fair. So, but you're not gonna miss your mom and them? You're like, I'm just ready to go. I'm ready to go.

Readiness For Graduation And HBCU Choice

SPEAKER_06 15:03

Well, I'm gonna miss them, yes. I'm I'm gonna miss them a lot, but I'm just ready to um find my own place in the world.

Monique Robinson 15:11

Okay. And how do you feel going to an HBCU will make that, you know, what what makes that more significant?

SPEAKER_06 15:22

Well, what makes it more significant to me, to be honest, because when I was growing up, I was around a lot of uh Mexicans and all that extra stuff, and I just don't want to be around that anymore. I want to be where my black people, my culture is, and I just want to be surrounded with that instead of what I'm surrounded with right now.

Monique Robinson 15:46

Okay, so you want to be in an environment where you feel like you're learning more about your culture and you're able to, and I get it. I mean, especially if you go to a school and it's you kind of outnumber. I I guess hey, I'm I'm transparent, I get it. I totally so you go in there, you you probably find your tribe, and you know, just don't forget about us in in San Antonio when you go to Austin, okay?

SPEAKER_06 16:15

Trust and believe I won't.

Monique Robinson 16:19

All right, so we got like one more commercial break, and when we come back, I'm going to ask you some black history questions. Because I just I love to hear what young people have to say about black history. Yes, sir. All right.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

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Culture, Belonging, And Campus Fit

Monique Robinson 17:02

Welcome back. I have been enjoying this time talking to Miss Adam Wiggins. Now, I didn't tell you like the whole truth. Like, I know Adam's family because Mariah, Mariah, your cousin? Yes, ma'am. That's that's one of my faves. Like, Mariah's been on here before, you know. So you got big shoes to fill because Mariah has won awards and everything else. So you know that that cousin, you know, she might tell you how you can win stuff. You don't make a sign, you know, say, hey Mariah, need you. It's only a dollar, you need to vote for me. So let me not get y'all family feud going on. But you know, your your um the daycare uh child development center is also in the category. So I mean, you get y'all work together, y'all might be able to do this. Just saying.

SPEAKER_06 17:56

Yes, ma'am.

Monique Robinson 17:56

You're like, uh-oh, she's telling me ways to strategize.

unknown 18:00

All right.

Monique Robinson 18:00

Okay, now earlier in the show, I did say it is the hundredth year for uh celebrating African American History Month or Black History Month, depending on how uh proper or down you want to be. Now, and I said something about the famous five, and I'm sorry if I offended anybody, but I get tired of learning about the famous five every year. However, I do respect them. But who do you know? I'm gonna ask you, Nancy. Out of my I'ma pick your brain today. Who do you know is not on the famous five list that you can help our audience out today?

SPEAKER_06 18:39

Well, mainly my black history that I've learned because my family is really into music and stuff. So, like in my black history line that I've learned that kind of changed the world, um, is Sam Cook. Okay. His name, Sam Cook. He was a good, he was a good man. He changed world. He worked with Martha Luther King Jr. and um Michael Mix and a lot of other people that's famous in the Black History month. Um and other people that I know, but I just don't know the names on the top of my head right now. But she was a slave and she was half white, half black. Um, she changed the world as well. I really don't know what her name right now is, but that's you when you come off the uh when you come off the broadcast, you can be like, wait a minute, I figured I got nervous because like it's not because she's famous as well, and another famous person that I know that I feel like changed the world is Whitney Houston, and most of most of singing people that I know, like I'm really big with the songs and everything and everything in my research music, so you're like uh elephant's drill.

Black History Reflections Beyond The “Famous Five”

Monique Robinson 20:06

You're like, I'm all into that. And the games, all those types of things, all those historic figures. Okay, see, I know I know a little bit about, but I truly want to thank you for coming on and telling us your story. Now, before we go, I need you to tell the lung uh a Houston Tillison University, uh Houston Tillison. Yes, sir. What do you need help? What you need help with so they can help you?

SPEAKER_06 20:39

Um, I really need um scholarships that would be a huge help, actually. Um, scholarships and uh full ride, a full ride scholarship, just saying no.

Monique Robinson 20:54

What they're not gonna throw the money. What what grade point average would we?

SPEAKER_06 20:57

Um my grade point average would be a 3.8. Um, yes, ma'am. I am a A B honor student, and um yeah, but honestly, those scholarships I really do need, and um yeah, okay now y'all heard her.

Monique Robinson 21:18

Um she is trying, she is pursuing to go to Houston Tillison University, um, and her aspiration is to be a midwife nurse, and she is currently holding a 3.8 as well as trying to get your votes for this HBCU community awards, which tickets have been officially open and on sale right now. And then if you can't make it to either of those things, you can give to our icons or you see that QR code above my head, you can scan it, it goes directly to Give the Fly, and then you will be sowing the seed to one of our young people anyway. But definitely uh use the Tillison alone, we got work to do. Um, please help out our scholars. She comes from good. So let's see what we can do. Thank you for coming again, Miss Autumn. And uh you know, we we'll be in our group chat. I'll be sharing out more scholarships and information for you. You got anything else before we go?

SPEAKER_06 22:18

Thank you.

Monique Robinson 22:19

Thank you for coming, as always.

Scholarship Needs And Call For Support

SPEAKER_02 22:26

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Monique Robinson 22:51

Tune in to a Better Chance for Youth Television show with host Monique Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network. A 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.