HCV’s College & Career Success Academy (CCSA)
HCV’s CCSA program provides in-school, after-school, and summer programming for middle and high school students to promote college and career readiness and overall postsecondary success even after graduation from Homewood Community Schools.
Featured Student Alumni Blog – Nelson Morris
My first semester of college was a time of significant change with various experiences, both positive and challenging. One exciting aspect of the first semester is the newfound freedom and independence that comes with living away from home. For many students, it’s their first time making decisions about daily routines and navigating the responsibilities of adulthood. This freedom allowed me to explore my interests, make new friends, and also showed me how to manage time and academic priorities.
Academically, the first semester brought some challenges. College courses are more demanding, requiring higher levels of critical thinking and self-discipline, and in the beginning, it was hard transitioning from high school to college-level work, facing rigorous assignments and a faster pace of learning. Despite the challenges, I grew accustomed to it and ultimately passed in the end. A highlight of the first semester is definitely going to my first college party and my first college football game. I never experienced anything like that in my life until I got here so I am grateful that being here allowed me to spread my wings and do things that I never done before.
The excitement and growth in the first semester come with challenges. Homesickness was a real challenge for me, There have been times when I felt lonely or didn’t have any real friends because my and everyone else backgrounds are so different here. Building new relationships and finding a sense of belonging in a larger and more diverse community can be really weird at times especially when you are a black kid coming from the hood. In a way there is no relatability factor, they don’t understand anything I go through and went through and vice versa.
Overall, The first semester of college was a rollercoaster, combining highs and challenging lows. For me, I could say it’s been a time of self-discovery, exploration, and adaptation. The first semester lays the foundation for the college experience so this was just a teaser of what more I have to come.