Raised in the powerful District of Columbia – Metro area, home to the legend President Barack Obama;
Audrey McKay, an accomplished author, CEO of Two Shoes Publishing House, former scientist, and graduate of Spelman College has decided to take a few moments from her successful life to share her famed “HBCU Experience”.
Where are you from? How did you first hear about HBCUs?
I grew up in the D.C. Metro area, and I had always known about HBCU’s but I hadn’t really planned to attend one over any other type of school in the beginning.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, DC; Image Credit: Soul of America
What made you choose an HBCU over a pwi?
When I visited the school, (Spelman), it just touched something in me and I felt like it was the only place I wanted to spend my college years in.
How did you decide to become a student at Spelman College?
A girlfriend of mine, that had gone to the same high school, convinced me to apply.
A Glimpse of the Beautiful Spelman College Campus; Image Credit: ThinkHBCU (Click To Enlarge)
At first I was dead set against it because I attended an all-girls high school and thought there was no way I would be doing the same for college, but my friend came back from her first semester and laid my fears to rest. lol
What professors at Spelman College left the most impression upon you as a student and/or person? What did they do that continues to mean so much to you to this day?
There were several professors that made a positive impression on me while I was there, but I think the person that left the most impact was Johnnetta B. Cole.
Dr. Johnnetta Cole giving a riveting and motivating speech; Image Credit: Black College BlogSpot
She was elected as the first ever black woman president of my predominantly black woman’s college. I was so impressed with how she came in and took us to higher levels with her leadership. She is a phenomenal woman that really changed the way I looked at myself.
What is the story of your “experience” to date at Spelman College given its heralded status as a stellar and prestigious institution?
I love my school and I’m so glad we chose each other. The network of alumna is amazing and extremely helpful.
The National Alumnae Association of Spelman College - NY Chapter working with the Community
In the past couple of years I’ve been able to go back and talk to some of the incoming freshmen and it was a very rewarding experience.
Where were the spots to go to if you wanted to cuddle with your boy or girlfriend?
Hmmm. Freshman year there was a certain tree me and my then boyfriend would meet at. That relationship ended and after that more and more things started happening off campus.
What were the best restaurants on and near campus? Which dishes did you enjoy the most?
There were local chicken and Chinese joints that we frequented, but I remember walking to Krispy Kreme at all times of the night. We walked in groups to be safe, but at some point during finals, someone would need a warm donut.
There was also a place called Micks that served the best Oreo cheesecake (this was before the Cheesecake Factory became popular on the east coast). (even though Micks is closed, we found the oreo cheesecake recipe for you)
What were the chants heard most often at the sporting events?
We attended events for Morehouse games also and the song ‘In The House” by Heavy D was popular in our freshmen year.
Usually something about “the house”.
Who was your College crush?
There were so many…:-)
How did you overcome your nervousness about going to college?
I wasn’t that nervous. I was excited to start a new chapter in my life, but it probably helped that I enrolled in a summer program before my freshman year started.
It was a program for science majors, so we could get a head start on the harder classes. It was only a few weeks, but it helped me get acclimated to the school and area.
What was your major? and Why did you choose it?
My major was biology and I chose it because I like to cut things up (In the lab). At one point, I thought I wanted to be a doctor.
It was between that and something to do with writing, but I chose science because I listened to people who kept saying that writers didn’t make money.
What was your proudest moment @ Spelman College?
It would have to be graduating. Accomplishing something that took several years of time and effort made me feel good.
What was your saddest moment @ Spelman College?
Several sad things happened, but a small group of students died while driving home during a break one year and that was hard.
What did you pledge? And why? And if not, why not?
I did not pledge. Every sorority was on probation when we came into freshman year. Later, it occurred to me that Spelman was a sorority and it was enough for me to be in that one.
How were you positively active on campus? (e.g. clubs, SGA, etc.)
I was in Morehouse’s marching band and participated in several tutoring groups while I was there.
Tutoring kids from the area was the best activity I did.
Where was the “yard” located?
The yard was located somewhere between “the oval” on Spelman’s campus, James P. Brawley Drive that ran through Clark Atlanta Univ’s campus, the yard on Morehouse’s campus, and everywhere in between. We did a lot of visiting in the AUC.
The Atlanta Univ. Center was made up of Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta Univ, Spelman, and Morehouse, along with Morehouse’s medical and seminary schools.
What and where were the historical places on campus?
The oldest buildings on campus were The Rockefeller building and Abby and Packard dorms.
Rockerfeller Hall on the Spelman College Campus; Copyright All rights reserved by ahenegar1
My freshmen year, Bill Cosby and the TV show “A Different World” came and filmed footage of the school which showed more people the beauty of the old historical buildings on campus. Spike Lee was also filming for his movie “School Daze” that year. It was very exciting.
Are there any ghost stories involving buildings or spots on campus?
I can’t think of any at the moment.
How many “firsts” did you have at Spelman College? What were they? (e.g. first road trip, first job interview, first love, first “F or A”, etc.)
I think most of my “firsts” occurred at college. It’s a time where you get to stretch your wings and step out from under your parents oversight to see who you really are, or who you want to be. I think those years at college really helped me form my sense of myself. I’m very grateful for those years.
If you could speak to those family members that have risen but that live forever through you, what words would you speak?
Thank you. I would say that to everyone in my ancestral line. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. If it hadn’t been for the doors they opened, I wouldn’t have been able to walk through them to get to where I am today.
If you could only speak two sentences to the youth coming after you what would you say?
Believe in yourself. Never give up.
So many things will come against you when you try to move on to the next level. You just have to persevere and push through it. Don’t let anything from your past or what anyone says about you deter you. You can make it to your next level if you keep pushing.
What situation in your life made you feel like you had arrived into womanhood?
Probably purchasing my first home. I felt like I had made it on my own. Of course I had help getting there, but it was a good time for me.
When and how did you discover your passion in life?
I’m a writer now and thinking back, I should have gone into english or journalism in college, but I listened to the wrong voices telling me that writers wouldn’t make any money. I went into science.
Well, I made money in science, but I still wasn’t happy. I knew there was still something out there that I should be doing and it wasn’t until I finished my first book that I realized what it was.
Since then, I’ve written a few more books. Most are Christian Fiction, but I did complete a general fiction/romance that may interest your readers. It’s called “The Re-Mix” and centers around a group of HBCU alumni. It’s under a pen name, though, so don’t look for my name when you search, just the book title.
The Re-Mix available for purchase on Amazon (Kindle Edition)
What sports and/or extra curricular activities did you do in High School? And why?
I was in the gospel choir and drill team of my high school and I did a lot of volunteering (before it was a requirement). I did those things because I enjoyed them, but I realize that extra-curricular activities can help “round out” your college applications.
How do you deal with racism if you encounter it?
I just move on. There will always be hateful, bigoted people in the world, but I don’t have to listen to them.
What’s your take on life (in the philosophical sense)?
Life is meant to be enjoyed and it’s too short to put up with negative people and/or negative situations.
I urge everyone that asks me to find your purpose on this earth and live it out fully, while you have time.
Questions about HBCU Life? Reach out to Audrey!! Just ask her!
