Meet BRADFORD
Name: Bradford J. Howard
Hometown: Missouri City, Texas
Major: English and Government
Minor: African American Studies
Expected Graduation: May 2008
Outside the Comfort Zone
I came to the University of Texas because I felt it would provide me with the opportunity to diversify my interests and get the perspectives of different people. I come from a predominantly Black neighborhood, and I wanted to get to know and interact with people outside of that comfort zone; and I figured what better place to do that than at one of the greatest universities in the country?
Twice the Challenge
I’d like to think that every day I attend class and go to organizational events is a challenge, mainly because I’m deaf in one ear and wear a hearing aid on the other. There’s always the possibility that I’ll miss something, so I have to work twice as hard to pay attention and make sure that I’m aware of what’s going on in class, organizations, and the like.
Contradicting the Stereotype
I definitely feel like being a member of Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB) allowed me to grow and develop as a person. I felt drawn to this organization mainly because it was all about empowering and strengthening African-American males on campus. It’s definitely something that I felt was needed, because young African-American males are constantly bombarded by images of rappers, entertainers, and athletes, and SAAB contradicts the stereotype that all Black men fit into one of those three categories. Last year, I had the opportunity to host a College Fair at McCallum High School, which is a local high school where we mentor some of the Black males. It was a great experience being able to provide the students there with a lot of information that I had access to in high school (i.e., scholarship information, how to fill out a FAFSA) but that a lot of students don’t always get, especially if they don’t have a great relationship with their high school counselors or vice versa.
Bradford’s advice on…
Making Friends
Definitely make sure to step out of your comfort zone every now and then, because you’ll be surprised to see how many people share your views regardless of what their background is. At the same time, though, definitely get to know people from your own background, especially if you’re from an underrepresented ethnic or social group.
Living On or Off Campus
I would definitely recommend living on campus, especially if you’re in your first or second year here. Being on campus is very convenient not just in terms of saving you gas money (if you live off campus); but also because it allows you to stay more informed about what’s happening on campus. I was able to keep up with a lot of the events going on on campus simply because there were always posters and flyers advertising them in the residence halls. Plus, living in a residence hall allows you to meet a lot of individuals you might not know otherwise. You definitely can’t get that opportunity to forge laundry-room or wing dinner friendships anywhere else.
Being a Successful Student
Don’t get caught up in your “freedom” as a college student. Having so much more time than you had in high school makes it seem like college will be so much easier; but you’ll no doubt find that managing that time is much harder. Keep a planner or calendar to mark important meeting and exam dates.
Balancing Studying, Friends and Work
Do as much as you can, but respect yourself while doing all you do: sometimes individuals get caught up in being involved to the point where they end up burning out in the middle of a semester. Get to know people with interests similar to yours, and those with different viewpoints so you can get that “other side of the story.” Definitely study hard for class, but try to get involved with organizations and attend events on campus that interest you. Make sure that your work schedule provides for time to study for classes.
More about Bradford
Favorites
Study location: Flawn Academic Center or my room
Class: Literary Contests and Contexts offered by the English Department in the College of Liberal Arts
Place to eat: Kerbey Lane Café and Chipotle
Books: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and The Million Dollar Divorce by R.M. Johnson
Movies: The Matrix and Crash
Send Bradford an email at ellisonheir@mail.utexas.edu
Updated 24 April 2008
