AD Banse, May Scholar of the Month, Shares Tips from Minnesota

Despite his busy schedule, AD took some time to speak with us about his college experience. Please read some of the wise tips and insights he shared:

1. How has your experience been at St. Olaf, a predominantly white institution (PWI) in Minnesota?

Hi AWU Fam. My name is AD Banse. I am a sophomore Political Science major, with concentrations in Management and Data Science and Statistics at St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota.

Being in Minnesota, like many other places, is both a rewarding experience and a challenging one. I grew up in Denver, Colorado. My family and I have moved around a lot within Colorado, but every time we moved, I was always able to form a community. Living in cities or urban areas has provided a depth of networking abilities that I was able to discover. My transition to St. Olaf, a predominantly white institution (PWI) in Minnesota, needless to say, was initially difficult. I think that often when BIPOC students of color enter predominantly white spaces, we tend to feel alone or be the outsider. Growing up in an urban environment in Denver, I had never entered a white space nor been in such a significant presence of whiteness; it made my first few years at St. Olaf a bit difficult.

As teachers and parents love to say, step out of your comfort zone. That's not always an easy thing to do. For me, I was not able to step out of that comfort zone until I found my people. I found members of my community, i.e. professors, high school friends who happened to go to my neighboring college, and new people, who shared similar experiences I had and could help me with my fears.

2. What advice do you have for other scholars attending PWIs and what advice do you have for AWU scholars in general?

I would advise all scholars to utilize all of the resources that are given to them. We are part of a privileged group of young intellectuals who have the opportunity of being within a community that fosters mentorship and growth. Making sure to check in with each other and our mentors is key to our success. We can’t fight our pain alone and the AWU team has an immense amount of resources and tools for these conflicts.

3. How has your experience been being on campus during COVID?

During the initial discovery of COVID, I stayed on campus to finish the rest of my freshman year. I had an easier time compared to my counterparts because I was able to have all the resources and amenities that I needed at my disposal. While it was a bit challenging to have the final chapters of my freshman year cut off, I don't think I had it nearly as bad as the current freshmen who were not able to have a full semester that allowed them to experience life as a freshman in college.

This year was extremely strange. I had to learn to adapt to difficult situations that I was never prepared for. I, like many others, realized that we were not getting the full college experience, which was of course no fault of our institution, rather the circumstances we were in and are still enduring. Hopefully, the next academic year will be better for us all.

4. What kind of activities are you currently/planning to be involved in on campus?

Once you can have more experience in college and learn more about the environment that you are in, you begin to learn more about yourself and start joining clubs and spaces that represent who you are. That being said, since coming to St. Olaf, I immediately gravitated toward the club named Karibu. Karibu is meant as a space for black bodies, particularly Africans and Carribeans and other Black international persons who want to find a community and space to be themselves. This club has not only helped me find some of my best friends, but also allowed me to network and get the tools necessary for my success here at St. Olaf.

Next academic year, I will be the Co-chair of Karibu, and my dreams and hopes are to inspire and motivate my community to find themselves in these seemingly white spaces. I, alongside my team, are planning on creating an inclusive club that promotes Black excellence in all forms.

5. I hear you have some exciting summer plans. Can you tell me about them?

This summer I will be participating in the Caltech Wave Fellows program. I will be doing research with Dr. Jonathan Katz. My goal in college, as I mentioned before, is to take full advantage of the resources available, and I encourage everyone to do the same because you never know what’s out there until you seek it.

6. What do you think you want to do when you graduate?

Frankly, I am not thinking too much about graduation because of finals and because of my interest in almost every single thing that I partake in. However, I do plan on graduating and attending graduate school. I think with the knowledge and mentorship I gain this summer, I will be closer to better understanding myself and where my many passions will take me. I believe that college is a gradual process that pushes us to develop our sense of self and passions, and it is ok if we do not have a clear, steer path for ourselves. Be open, be kind to your professors (so they can write your letter of recommendations) and enjoy the moments before they're gone, and NETWORK!!!

Peace & Love,

AD