"Disciplining my Experience"

What can and will you do to be a part of the “best and brightest” of Howard?

To become “the best and brightest” of Howard, I must ask questions (Dr. Thornton). I must ask questions about our education and issues regarding the human condition. In order to become the “replacement leaders of our nation”, we must prepare ourselves to surpass the achievements of past leaders to address the existing issues (Dr. Thornton). In order to prepare ourselves, we must become knowledgeable here at Howard University and transform into interpreters of our generation. If we don’t interpret our constitutional system, it will be used against us (Dr. Thornton). I must study hard, and remember the foremost reason I’m here at Howard. I must release friends that are not a benefit to where I’m going (Dr. Thornton). I must surround my self with intellectuals who are asking questions and bringing our institution into transformation. “School systems are what you ask them to be” (Dr. Thornton). Our goal should be to change the world and enhance the human condition; this should change the lack of opportunity, change the enslavement of people and change the inequalities of health care. When we become the doctors, lawyers and important figures of our generation, we must not only provide or make money, but provide to those in need and contribute to the “the best and brightest” legacy of Howard.

What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? How does your citizenship in the nation inform you world citizenry?

A citizen of the world is someone who contributes on a global standpoint, not just in their own community. They contribute to the world’s giant community of the human condition. In order to be a citizen, you must be an intellectual who uses their knowledge to enhance the state of human civilization, rather than their own circumstance. Being a citizen of a nation helps to bring previous knowledge from a personal standpoint of past achievements and failures to the big picture. What did work and what did not work in your country could help in attacking the issues of the world. We all have rights and responsibilities to participate in the movement of our people in our nation and planet.

Identify a representative thinker of Howard. How does that figure's life work inspire you to "till and turn over the soil" which, as Dr Thornton noted, is expected of each Howard student.

Ernest Just was a great African-American biologist who taught at Howard University. He studied hard to become the best intellectual and knowledgeable student he could, in order to contribute to future generations. He used his knowledge to inform students at Howard University as a professor. At Howard, he asked questions and established his legacy. He was not only a citizen of the United States, he became a citizen of the world. He not only left a legacy at Howard, he expanded his legacy to the world. For example, he traveled to many countries to work as the first American in their laboratories (ernestjustfoundation.org). This achievement was amazing to me by the fact that he was not just the first African-American; he was the first American. He chose to acknowledge his right and responsibility to participate in the movement of the world and improve the human condition. His life work encourages me to set my goals high and continually address issues of the human conditions. By coming to know Howard contributions, I can define myself at Howard, in the nation and the world; I’m moving to empower my people.