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Giving Thanks for Second Chances

Nov 22, 2022 | Stories

In this season of giving thanks, sophomore Mame Diarra (Mumjahdah) AbdurRahman reflects on her gratitude for Mitchell College.

“Mitchell College has given me the second chance to have an educational experience. It accommodates my learning style and that eases my anxiety. I love to connect with staff on campus, mostly because they remind me that you can have a pleasant experience in school, be acknowledged for things you have accomplished and be recognized for where you are as a person,” she said.

“Two things drew me to Mitchell. I loved how President Espy is African American and looks like me, and it’s a college with learning accommodations.”

Mame Diarra, 27, was recently diagnosed with autism.

“I knew there was something going on with me,” she said. “But I didn’t know what. I felt like a misunderstood person.”

She attended two other colleges before Mitchell, where she first enrolled early in the pandemic, when classes were on Zoom. After less than a semester, she decided to take a break from school.

“I wasn’t going to come back at all,” she said. “I thought, ‘I’m kind of done. I don’t want to do school anymore. I’m over it.’”

Mame Diarra went back home to Oakland, Calif., where she said she started working on herself by working out and eating right.

“I saw what the worst possibility was, and I saw what the best possibility was,” she said.

She returned to an organization – Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) – where she has been involved since 2013, both as a volunteer and an employee. An interfaith art jobs and job training program for homeless and low-income youth in the San Francisco Bay area, the organization focuses on giving youth the skills, experience and self-confidence to empower and transform their lives.

Mame Diarra went back to work as a resident assistant in the organization’s Tiny House Empowerment Village, transitional youth housing.

“Tiny House Village changed my life. It allowed me the space and time to work on myself mentally and physically while helping low-income and at-risk youth. It was my home and community that I stay connected with,” she said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to do many things for YSA – doing art and writing poetry, learning how to run a nonprofit and speaking at rallies and council meetings on behalf of the organization. It has grown me personally and professionally over the years.”

Mame Diarra, a singer since childhood, also discovered that she has a talent for poetry when poet Charles Blackwell visited YSA in 2015.

“He said I was a talented writer and started mentoring me. It was intense, but it shaped my poetry. My past traumas and stuff I never got the chance to say inspires my poetry. My dad died when I was 16. My family would do things to honor him but wouldn’t talk about how I was in pain. Putting my feelings on paper was therapy for me.”

Mame Diarra said her poetry also comes from laughter; she can make anyone laugh and sees laughter as medicine. She likes that “grammar doesn’t count” in poetry and ideas can be expressed in any way.

“My poetry comes to me when it comes to me. Most of my deeper poetry is God-directed because it’s something outside of me. It’s within my human experience, but something outside of me – an unknown source – directs me to do it. I write it down and it’s beautiful. It’s a stream. I don’t craft it.”

Her poetry has been published in several periodicals and is now in a newly published book, “It Takes a Village: Tiny Houses, Big Voices” (Youth Spirit Artworks).

A psychology major and criminal justice minor, Mame Diarra has a goal of opening up a restorative justice organization to give kids who are looked at as rebellious a chance to reform in elementary school or even college.

“I want to be that person to advocate for an African American kid in an all-white setting who needs more guidance. When I hear about rebellious kids, I say a secret prayer and wish them the best, but I want to be the person who says to them, ‘Where does this come from, how can you help yourself?’ and help bring something positive to them.’”

For now, Mame Diarra is grateful to have returned to Mitchell after her almost two-year hiatus.

“I was at home on my balcony one night and said, ‘God, I want my education again. Should I go back to New London?’ I woke up with the sudden urge to go back,” she said.

“I think it’s very important to practice gratitude. It is what makes the forces that we can’t see balanced.”

 

To read one of Mame Diarra’s poems, click here.

Trustee-Alum Comes Full Circle

Oct 5, 2022 | Stories

Mitchell College Trustee Cornell Yarbrough ’01 fondly remembers words of wisdom imparted to him as a student by one of his Mitchell professors: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

“I love that line,” Cornell said.

Living your unique story – not trying to live someone else’s – is an ingredient for living a joyful life, and Cornell’s Mitchell experience was one part of his recipe.

“When I arrived on the Mitchell campus,” he said, “my intention was just to attend college and live on a campus while I figured everything out. I didn’t have a specific plan. I was drawn to the school for its campus, the individual attention a smaller college like Mitchell can provide and the amazing teachers. Mitchell was beautiful, transformative and fun.”

Cornell began his Mitchell career as a sport management major before changing to liberal arts. He earned his associate degree in 2001 and went on to Hofstra University to earn his bachelor’s degree in communications in 2004.

“I learned discipline and how to focus at Mitchell College, which helped me tremendously in my success at Hofstra,” he said.

Today, he excels in the communications field as an on-air personality and DJ for iHeart Radio in New York and Boston. He also pays his success forward as CEO of Whutever it takes DJ Academy – an innovative afterschool program that exposes students in grades 4 through 12 to a unique form of learning music, communication and improvisation, all which can be the foundation for future careers.

A soon-to-be-author, he is also working on a line of children’s books to inspire youth through music.

“I’m excited because the storyline will show that all children are created equal and can overcome any obstacle in life, whether they have disabilities or not.”

As a Mitchell student, Cornell involved himself in many activities.

“I was on the baseball team, in the multicultural club and worked in the campus bookstore. I was also a resident assistant for Matteson Hall. Some of my favorite memories at Mitchell were family weekends, on-campus parties in the club room, talent shows in Clarke Center Auditorium and laughing with friends in the lobby of Matteson Hall.”

As a Mitchell trustee and an alumnus, Cornell is in a unique position to help move the college forward.

“Being an alumnus informs my work as a trustee by allowing me to have a similar perspective of a future, current or past Mitchell student. I can bring information to my fellow trustees about events and other ideas that can enrich the student experience at Mitchell.”

Helping Mitchell and Its Students Flourish

Oct 5, 2022 | Stories

Having worked for 17 years at Mitchell College in various roles, Kim Hodges ’03 recently returned to the school after a 10-year hiatus. Now the director of development, she is eager to do her part to help both her alma mater and its students flourish and thrive.

“I feel an affinity to Mitchell for helping me accomplish my educational goals, earning my bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. More than that, I have seen students accomplish more than they ever thought possible. When I speak to someone that Mitchell has made a profound impact on or impacted their child, it makes me feel great. We each have a role in helping our students learn, grow and discover their bright futures and their best selves,” she said.

Kim was a non-traditional student who went back to school after her son was born.

“The family-owned business I had worked at since high school closed. I knew I wanted to go back to college, so I visited several in the area. None of the programs seemed to be a good fit for me. My best friend had attended Mitchell, loved it and thought it would be great for me. I saw that there was a part-time opening in the registrar’s office, so I applied for the job, started working at Mitchell and taking classes. My best friend was right. Mitchell was the perfect fit for me!” Kim said.

As a college student, Kim said she was an intelligent person but a non-confident learner, especially in the areas of math and writing. She credits her professors with changing that.

“Ann Keating, my statistics professor, took me to lunch and helped bolster my confidence. And the best academic day of my life was having Dr. Don Helms, my psychology professor, tell me I was a good writer. He also nurtured my desire to speak and encouraged me to attend the Connecticut Storytelling Conference at Connecticut College,” she said.

Kim said that after attending that conference, she became one of the storytellers at the Psychology Department’s Halloween Festival and also told stories at other events.

“I truly believe that without the support of the Mitchell community, I would not have had the courage to pursue something that has made such a positive impact on my life and has led me to meet people all over the United States,” she said.

In addition to using her newfound skills for the benefit of the Mitchell community, Kim has also presented and written professionally on topics related to both secondary and higher education, ranging from “Thirty Questions You Should Ask Before Sending Your LD Child to College” to “Preparing for College Through Military Service.”

Kim said, “Without the Mitchell faculty’s encouragement and support, I would not have had the courage to pitch stories to magazines or present at national and regional conferences. Not only did the faculty support me in these efforts, Kevin Mayne, my supervisor at the time, provided additional coaching and opportunities to grow in this area.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Job Takes Alumna ‘Out to Ballgame’

Oct 5, 2022 | Stories

When Emily Mitchell ’20 began at Mitchell College, she had a goal of becoming a sitcom writer. As time went on, her interest changed.

“I rediscovered my love of sports and started gravitating towards sports media, such as journalism, broadcasting, social media and video production. As a student, I attended a lot of athletics games on campus and made friends watching post-season baseball in the lobby of the residence halls. I’ve always been someone with a lot of ‘school spirit,’ so I loved going to games of any sport, and as a competitive person, I was passionate about winning, especially during the baseball season,” she said.

Emily majored in communication with a concentration in sport management. She was also one of the students who helped to create Mitchell’s sports broadcasting team through Radio Mitchell. After graduation, she found her way to the Hickory Crawdads, a Minor League Baseball team in North Carolina, affiliated with the Texas Rangers, a Major League Baseball team.

She works as both a group sales executive and on-field host for the Crawdads, sharing her passion for the sport with young and old alike.

“As a group sales executive, I love being able to work with my clients, who are often families or businesses, to create the best experience possible for them. The most challenging aspect of that job is finding creative ways to solve problems, but that makes the job exciting,” Emily said.

As the on-field host, Emily emcees while hosting fan games, like Dizzy Bat, Launch-A-Ball and trivia. She also sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the middle of the 7th inning.

“Being an on-field host allows me to interact with so many fans at the ballpark. It’s also a great way to keep the energy high there, but it can be challenging to stay within the allotted time limit and to make sure younger kids don’t get nervous.”

Thanks to her Mitchell education, however, Emily feels well-equipped to handle many situations that arise in her job.

“I spend most of my day communicating with people. At Mitchell, I learned the basics of effective communication in a business setting and sharpened my communication skills by never being afraid to ask questions.”

She also problem-solves and draws on her understanding of diverse perspectives.

“Nothing is predictable in the sports world, and there are always problems to solve, whether it’s an unaccounted-for food order or a fan upset about a rain delay. Working as a Resident Assistant and being in the Honors Program at Mitchell, I learned how to listen to the needs of others and think creatively about how to solve problems. Also, as someone who moved from New England to North Carolina, I’ve had to address cultural differences here – which has been difficult but rewarding – and have worked to make the Crawdad fan experience more inclusive.”

Emily has a goal of pursuing a graduate degree in marketing or sports management/athletic administration. She credits Mitchell College with pointing her in that direction.

“I was drawn to Mitchell for its location between New York City and Boston. Now I know that Mitchell was the best place for me because of its close community, supportive faculty and staff and the ability to tailor my education to what I needed. Mitchell made it easier to challenge myself academically when I needed it and helped me to realize the passion that I am pursuing now.”

Play ball! Radio internship hits home run

Aug 30, 2022 | Stories

Dean Pavlou dreamed of being a Major League Baseball player when he was young. If that didn’t work out, he had a backup plan.

“I used to put the TV on mute and announce the game,” he said. “Announcing has always been fun for me, and I have always had a knack for announcing and following the game. I love listening to and learning from what the announcers would say about a play. Gary Cohen from the New York Mets and Mike Breen from ESPN are announcers I try to emulate.”

Already the game announcer for Mitchell College baseball and basketball and the president of Radio Mitchell, the senior communication major honed his skills at his summer internship with WABC Radio in New York City. Paul Dunn, Mitchell’s integrative career development coordinator, helped Dean imagine what the internship would entail.

“I interned as a radio journalist, writing sports articles and live-tweeting baseball games,” Dean said.

As part of the internship, Dean attended meetings with three to four other people from the sports department to talk about what content would be released through various channels.

“The stories that I wrote went on the Intern’s Corner of the WABC website. Some were also posted on the regular sports page. I like writing sports articles a lot and have really improved my writing. Working in the sports department with other people who are interested in the same things I’m interested in was great, too. I had a lot of fun with it.”

In addition to writing, Dean practiced his broadcasting skills.

“My favorite part of the internship was doing the demos and recording myself speaking. I liked putting them together and writing the headlines. I follow a lot of sports teams, so I stayed up to date with what’s going on. It was easy for me to find information on the internet and say, ‘OK, there it is,’ and then say it in the demo.”

Dean also followed the games and social media of Major League Baseball teams.

“I tweeted baseball games, which means if there was a really good play that a player made, I tweeted it out. I also tweeted out what the teams’ social media teams put out. I went on the Mets page or the Red Sox page, found content and put it on the WABC page. I looked for whatever captured the eye.”

Dean said that communication in the job was key, and he also thought critically about his work.

“You had to figure out if something was appropriate to write about. I learned a lot about that and picked it up really quickly.”

While Dean has the information and knowledge for sports writing, he said sometimes he was challenged to find the right word or correct style when writing an article or doing other work.

“It’s the little things that got me,” he said, “like when I made a demo, I said ‘ah’ too many times.”

But he is right where he wants to be.

“My internship went well. I’ve overcome a lot, thanks to support from Mitchell and the Bentsen Learning Center. I have a learning disability and am grateful to be where I am, having worked at WABC, about to graduate college. My dream hasn’t changed at all, and I’m excited for my next chapter.”

A taste of hospitality work

Aug 18, 2022 | Stories

Senior Annie Gallagher said the three things that stand out to her about Mitchell College are its access to learning opportunities, its dedicated leadership and its strong student supports, such as the Bentsen Learning Center and the tutoring center.

Taken together, they helped her successfully pursue a summer internship at The Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Penn.

“Mitchell does a great job of leading their students to where they want to go in the future,” Annie said.

After submitting her application and participating in a video interview, Annie was accepted as a recreation intern at the resort hotel. The hospitality and tourism major put lessons learned in Resort Management and Introduction to Hospitality to work, as she gained real-world experience in the “chocolate capital of the world.”

“When I started my internship, I heard about how we had to deal with guest complaints. That got me really nervous because I didn’t think I would be able to handle all of that pressure. But as the days went on, it got easier,” Annie said.

She learned that there are ways to handle complaints, such as issuing discounts to appease unhappy guests. In her work with guests and fellow employees, she honed her skills in problem solving, communication and social interaction every day.

A typical day for Annie consisted of making rounds to check on and help with different activity sites on the campus of the historic hotel, including the Cocoa Clubhouse for kids, outdoor pool and sports complex.

“My favorite part of my internship was being able to interact with the guests and kids. Whenever I saw a kid having a good time, it made me so happy. I realized that I love being surrounded by kids, so, when thinking about what I want to do in the hospitality industry after graduation, recreation is definitely an option for me.”

In addition to immersing herself in this five-day-a-week learning opportunity, another benefit of working at The Hershey Hotel were the fun perks, including discounts at Hershey stores and restaurants and free admission to Hersheypark – all in all, a sweet way to spend the summer in “The Sweetest Place on Earth.”