Page 26 - Spelman50thReunionBook

College Experience as a Day

Student

by Dorothy Kent Mabry

Living at home during college was something that everyone
navigated in their own way. Despite unique differences, there
was common ground. If you were first generation to attend
college, there was grave pressure to excel not only for
yourself, but more importantly for your family. Often you were
unable to spend a lot of time on campus, which made it
harder to stay involve and more difficult to immerse in
bonding experiences. Even though college may not have
been as linear as most thought, it was one of the best
experiences if fully embraced. Participating in extracurricular
activities not only provided an opportunity to meet like-
minded students, it helped commuting students to feel more
comfortable and connected on campus.

Spelman College enriched our lives in many ways. It was
having the freedom to make mistakes and learning from
those mistakes. It was trying new things, expanding your
world view and forging your own path. It was making life-long
friends and enjoying the bond of Spelman Sisterhood. At
Spelman, we were encouraged to find our voice, to evolve
and become involved with making a difference in the world.

Whether you were a day student or dorm student, these
experiences contributed profoundly to our development,
tenacity, and self-reliance. We were prepared well for life’s

journey.