Hampton University Final Blog Post
As The HistoryMakers Student Ambassador program comes to a close, I decided to dedicate my final blog post to providing advice for future (Hampton University) Student Ambassadors! Additionally, I wanted to reflect upon the highlights and adversities during my tenure as a Student Ambassador.
Parts of this blog post are excerpts from my End of Action Plan that I have been continuously drafting over the past two weeks. More of the End of Action is listed below:
ADVICE FOR (HAMPTON UNIVERSITY) FUTURE STUDENT AMBASSADORS:
Step out of your comfort zone!
When using the archive and doing campus outreach, do not limit yourself! Utilize the diversity within your university’s student body and faculty to find ways to engage people within the archive. For instance, an idea of mine was to connect with the Theater Department for them to utilize the digital archive for character development.
“Storytelling component” and “digging deep into the archive”
Within my tenure as a HistoryMakers Student Ambassador, I remember these phrases being emphasized the most by the founder, Ms. Richardson.
The HistoryMakers’ featured in the digital archive are telling their life stories. As a Student Ambassador, it is critical to ensure that their story is being relayed in an effective, appropriate manner. With this in mind, be intentional about the stories you select. Whether you’re selecting quotes for blog posts or a clip from an interview, being thoughtful with your selection will make it much easier for you to discuss what you’ve learned in meetings. If you ever struggle with this, it always helps to find a personal connection within the digital archive!
At first, I struggled with what Ms. Richardson meant by “digging deep into the archive”. For instance, say you’re on social media and initially search for “how to do knotless braids”. Then, you decide to search, “How to do Bantu knots”. Two to three hours later, you’ve found yourself watching a video on “How enslaved Africans braided rice seeds in their hair”. I use this analogy as an example of what it means to dig deep into the archive; you never know what you will find
3. Connect with Student Ambassadors from other institutions
As soon as you have your first weekly meeting, make sure all of the Student Ambassador exchange contact information Throughout all of the meetings I’ve had for the HistoryMakers, each Student Ambassadors brings a unique perspective to group discussions and outreach plans! For instance, one Student Ambassador inspired me to contact the fashion organization on our campus after she had a successful turnout when presenting The HistoryMakers Digital Archive to fashion club on her college campus!
Managing job duties, school, extracurricular, and a social life can be overwhelming as a Student Ambassador. Connecting with other Student Ambassadors builds your support system and allows you to find comfort in knowing that you are not alone
HistoryMaker Student Ambassadors taking a selfie at the Higher Advisory Educational Board Meeting in Arlington, VA (front: Izzy Torkornoo, left: Delicia Drain, middle: Simone Quary, right: Tierney Macon)
4. FOR HAMPTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ONLY: You MUST contact and partner with The William & Norma B. Harvey Library for all campus outreach efforts for the digital archive!
Myself and another Student Ambassador were unaware of this until closer to the BHM Contest. Below, I have provided contact information to the appropriate library staff to discuss use and promotion of The HistoryMakers Digital Archive with. Do not hesitate to contact the library staff if you have any questions or concerns
The HistoryMakers Digital Archive and the William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library table at the Student Center
END OF ACTION PLAN EXCERPTS:
