As a high school student, it might be hard to imagine what life would be like after graduation when SAT and AP testing is over. But for many recent Lane alumni, navigating the collegiate world and becoming active members of their college community can be just as challenging.

For many college students, their extracurricular activities aren’t always chosen based off of their application to future careers, some are chosen just because of personal interests. However, there are students who get involved in clubs and organizations with the purpose of using that experience later on in life.

Ibraheem Hamzat, Class of 2016, currently attends University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Hazmat recently won the Spirit of Service award in college for his volunteer work with Minority Pre- Health Association (MPHA), an organization which develops community for minorities interested in working in the health department.

“The organization also provides members with tools to succeed, including, but not limited to, in-group mentoring, volunteer opportunities, exposure to research opportunities and tutoring,” Hamzat said.

Adjusting to a college community with a very different culture was a struggle for Hamzat, which is why he also became involved with the program Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of People of Color (CCSPC). He wanted to help people of color become better represented within the pre-medical community.

“Nebraska state schools have an inclination to accept students from Nebraska, yet, of the 90 kids that were in the program, I was the only black student from a Nebraska school,” Hamzat said.

Hamzat’s achievements not only make him a proud member of his community, but also allow him to offer more opportunities for minorities.

“I didn’t expect to be able to make a difference in my community, especially to the degree to which I have been able and will be able to,” Hamzat said.

Nia Robinson graduated Lane in 2015  and is a rising senior at Middlebury College in Vermont. She is active within various collegiate organizations and extracurriculars that involve the subject of English and school-related volunteering.

Over the course of her college career, Robinson has been a volunteer at Mary Hogan Elementary School, a member of Poor Form Poetry (Middlebury’s Slam Poetry club), and a Co-President of the Black Student Union.

Similar to Hamzat’s struggle, Robinson also experienced drastic cultural changes at their respective college campuses.

“I am just as vocal and aware of the issues I have with this place, but they do not consume me,” Robinson said. “Over the past three years, I have learned to balance the two [studies and various organizations].”

Marina Beale currently attends Michigan State University and became involved in an organization called Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management, a program whose goal is to help people in the foodservice by education and networking.  

“I felt that if I could use my personality traits and my skills from working in the food and beverage industry throughout high school, it would be a recipe for professional and career success,” Beale said.

Along with her involvement in the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management, Beale also aims to continue her internship with Lettuce Entertain You, a restaurant group that consists of 120 or more restaurants, according to their website.

“My expectations and duties for my summer internship with Lettuce Entertain You should consist of learning the ins and outs of foodservice management and overall furthering my expertise within the food and beverage industry,” Beale said.

Although she has moved on in a new chapter of her life after she graduated from high school, Beale recognizes how much Lane helped her prepare for college and her future.

“Lane contributed to my ability to talk to others, professionally and socially, which really goes a long way in college,” Beale said. “I am nothing less than a proud alumna of this amazing institution.”