Members of GHAME/Brother 2 Brother at Georgia Highlands College (GHC) recently attended the GlobalMindED conference at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), during which students participated in panel discussions and breakout sessions.
“GlobalMindED is an organization that focuses on finding solutions to issues that create barriers for first generation students,” Project Director of Inclusion and Equity Jon Hershey said. “That mission fits both Georgia Highlands College’s access mission in general, and our GHAME and B2B student initiative more specifically.”
Student and B2B Cartersville Chapter President Jalen Hudson participated on a panel with other students titled “How Can We Better Respond to Student Needs?”
Hudson, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration at GHC, spoke about an opportunity he and fellow GHC students had to speak with GHC President Dr. Mike Hobbs and University System of Georgia Board of Regent member Cade Joiner about their roles as students on campus, what they wanted to see on campus, what they enjoyed at GHC and things they would like changed.
“It was my first opportunity to represent my peers and give insight into the life of a college student,” Hudson said.
To prepare to speak at GlobalMindED, Hudson participated in mock panel discussions, working through questions and answer sessions along with lots of practice. Hudson revised and perfected his statements then practiced with GHAME Coordinator Evan Snelling and Hershey before speaking with the panel.
While the mock panels and discussion were good preparation for the conference, Hudson didn’t need any convincing to participate.
“Any time Evan mentions an opportunity to travel, I immediately mark it in the calendar and look forward to it,” Hudson said. “Public speaking is one of my interests, so I had been waiting for someone to give me a mic.”
He said the overall conference was a positive experience.
“It’s definitely rewarding to be able to connect with people from everywhere, and you never know exactly who you’ll meet,” Hudson said.
In addition to Hudson’s participation on the student panel, GHC alumnus and former B2B Floyd Chapter President Rontavious Coley provided the introduction to guest speaker, musical artist Michael “Killer Mike” Render, during which he talked about his experience as a college student finding mentorship through B2B.
Other B2B members who attended the conference were Michael Acoff of the Marietta Chapter, Tyison Brooks of the Cartersville Chapter and Jacari Gill of the Marietta Chapter.
