There was a student who was really bright, really talented, and expected
to do really, really well.
And he went off to college, and he had dropped out. And when his teacher asked him why, he
said it was because he didn't have his Posse with him.
So that was how the whole idea started.
Hello. My name is Jessica Palacios.
Jonathan Marcus Cooper.
Eni Adedokun.
My name is Reuben Buchanan.
Schyler Cain.
Sharrod McClusky.
My name is Jeff Allen. I'm the mentor for
BU Posse 1.
I'm really proud of them here as we approach graduation.
So the Posse program really is all about bringing
students together, in groups of ten, to a university.
It's about more than the scholarship,
it's absolutely a support system.
You know, going from Atlanta to Boston is a big change, and so just knowing that somebody
is there for you,
that shares your similar background, has gone through some of the same things you have,
is a pretty comforting and powerful thing.
I feel like I did a lot while I was here.
This is about being a societal engineer.
And we just go into elementary schools, middle schools, high schools,
and we just talk to kids about what engineers
do and how we try to solve the world's problems.
The first time I came on campus, I was a part
of the FYSOP Program.
I remember going to different jail sites and just telling our stories
and speaking with the different prisoners
who are in school, and trying to learn things.
The reason why I chose to volunteer at the
Chelsea Community Schools is because they have a huge Hispanic population.
I remember when I was younger, when I didn't
know how to speak English really well, how much I struggled.
I feel like the kids actually wanted to be
helped and wanted me to be there.
I was able to go to Venice on the graphic design study abroad program.
It's just a really amazing thing, especially
for an artist.
That was one of the highlights of my college experience.
BU is a hard school. You're here with valedictorians.
I came in as a biology pre-med major.
Oof.
I just didn't feel like I was doing well, and I was just so tired all the time.
There was a period of time where I was concerned
about being able to stay at BU.
I felt stupid at my classes.
But I really learned from it. I learned how to be more competitive.
I ended up taking a philosophy course with
Aaron Garrett, which was the "History of Ethics."
I decided to make my major philosophy.
I started talking to a lot of my Posse,
and we'd go back to that hug.
I would just hang out with them or have a meal with them or something, just for a little while.
And just having those days were, just for an hour or two, I could think about something else.
Yeah. Really, really helped me get through it.
So after being here for a year, I decided
to take a leave of absence because,
I found out I was pregnant.
Being away from school just made me realize how much I needed this education,
how much I wanted my Bachelor's degree.
Knowing that they believed in me and really
cared about me really got me to come back.
And she's on track to graduate in December of next year.
That's an amazing thing to have a child and be able to support it and to be able to come
back to what you were doing,
and still achieve your dreams.
And I know it's tough for her everyday because she misses her daughter, Natalie.
But she and I talk about it a lot, and that is that
what you do today will make your life so much easier down the road.
So this is Natalie.
I'm going to need a job, because I have Natalie.
That's why I'm happy to stay another year and a half because I have so many things to
accomplish before I graduate.
But my Posse. I think my Posse's always going to be in my life. I want to grow old with them.
What am I going to do after college? That's the big question.
I'm looking for jobs in advertising and marketing.
My goal is to get my PhD in neurodegenerative diseases.
I'd love to stay in Boston, but I'm not opposed
to taking an opportunity anywhere.
I want to take my efforts and knowledge that I learned from Boston University,
and take it to Atlanta, in order to create a better community.
And from then on, I'm going to be on a campaign trip.
One day, I want to be the 5th District Congressman of Georgia.
Posse has definitely set up the infrastructure for all of us to be successful.
But it wouldn't be this kind of experience
without the support of BU.
We met people at the Howard Thurman Center, Ms. Kennedy, and you know, Dean Elmore,
President Brown, and he knew our names, and he was really funny,
and these are all people who have really busy schedules,
they have so many things going on,
and amazingly enough, they seem to make time for us.
I don't know if it could have been done without them.
I really enjoyed that experience here on campus.