Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School students reflect on goals during campus visit
May 21, 2008 - In September 2007, the NC State College of Management hosted 14 students from the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School.
As part of their day on campus, the students participated in an exercise led by Brett Locklear, then assistant director for Native American and Hispanic Student Affairs in the university’s Division of Student Affairs.
Locklear (left in the photo above) had asked the students to work in teams to draw and explain a graphic representation of what they needed to achieve their goals, using the parts of a car to carry their message. The following is taken from one team's response.
- Windshield - To see what’s ahead of us
- Windshield wipers - So we can remove distractions, keep a clear path
- Rear view mirror - So we remember where we came from
- Steering wheel - So we can steer our way in the right direction
- Headlights - So we can have a bright future
- Front fender - So we can push obstacles out of our way
- Tires - So we can steadily move through life
- Front door - To open our minds to new ideas
- Back door - When one door closes, another shall open
- Trunk - So we can store our knowledge
- Hitch - So we may help others along the way
- Dent in the door - Everyone has battle scars; they only make us stronger.
The Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School serves just under 150 Native American and other students who live in Halifax and Warren counties in North Carolina, just north of Rocky Mount.
For some, the campus visit last fall was their first visit to the university. Others who had attended university programs in the past gained a new perspective on the university and insight about the College of Management.
“It particularly made a big impression on the juniors,” said Carol Bone, counselor at the school. And she has seen an increase in the number of students considering applying to college.
While at the College of Management, the students observed a senior-level business policy and strategy class, and heard presentations by David Washington, assistant dean in the College of Management, and members of the university’s Division of Student Affairs and others. Washington helped organize the visit as part of the college's outreach and diversity efforts.
“They particularly enjoyed the comments made by Brett Locklear,” Bone said, especially his urging the students to start putting money away for college and to apply for scholarships.
Visiting the senior level business class "opened their eyes, that it's not as easy as it seems," said Madonna Sitting Bear, a teacher's assistant who accompanied the students. And hearing the message about "putting money into a bank account also set off the light bulb for them," she added.
Such campus experiences are helpful for students who may feel uncomfortable leaving their close-knit, rural community for life on a university campus, Bone said.
“NC State has been the best in offering these kinds of opportunities,” she added. She said she hoped the college or university would offer another similar program this year, but targeting younger students. While a number of college camps are available for upperclassmen, “ninth and tenth graders have nothing available to them,” Bone said.
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