When Alexandria Curry left Champaign, Illinois, for Florida A&M University, she was ready for change. “All I could think about was leaving Illinois,” she said with a laugh. “I needed something new — a place where my Blackness wouldn’t be questioned or minimized but celebrated every day.”

Now a junior studying Environmental Sciences, Alexandria has found not just her calling in STEM, but her confidence as a young Black woman in a field that too often overlooks voices like hers.

Alexandria was born and raised in Champaign, a mid-sized college town two hours south of Chicago. Though her city was diverse, she often felt caught between identities. “I was the first in my family not raised in Chicago, so that already made my experience different,” she said.

Her schools were predominantly white, but she doesn’t recall overt racism. “Most of Illinois is progressive and liberal,” she explained. “But that didn’t mean I always felt like I fit in.”

It wasn’t until high school that things began to shift. “I found a new crowd of people who helped me reinvent myself,” she said. “I learned that my differences were what made me special. The biggest lesson I took from home is: go where you’re celebrated — and be unapologetically you.”

Alexandria comes from what she proudly calls a “strong matriarchal family.”

“My family promoted Black beauty and self-esteem,” she said. “I didn’t always see examples of Black excellence in my community, but my family made sure I knew my worth.”

Her educational roots run deep. “My great-grandfather was a scientist at the University of Chicago, and both my parents earned degrees in mathematics,” she said. “Education wasn’t just encouraged — it was expected.”

Her mother went on to earn a master’s in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, while her father pursued a master’s in Library and Information Science. “They raised me to believe I had every right to take up space in STEM, even when my environment didn’t make that easy,” she said.

It was her aunt, a Hampton University alumna, who first planted the HBCU seed. “She told me, ‘You’ve got the brains and the drive — now you need the community.’”

By her senior year of high school, Alexandria was ready to go. “All the schools I applied to were out of state — I wanted to leave Illinois expeditiously,” she said. “I wanted friends who looked like me, people who wore bonnets like me, who understood my experiences.”

That clarity deepened during an AP Chemistry class, where she and one other student were the only Black girls. “It hit me that I’d probably face this same isolation in my career,” she said. “I wanted to change that. I wanted to be around other Black scientists, to see what was possible.”

Florida A&M offered everything she wanted — a strong environmental sciences program, the warmth of Florida, and an energy she could feel the moment she stepped on campus.

“Initially, I didn’t think any HBCUs had earth science programs,” she said. “When I found out FAMU did, I was so relieved.”

Then there was the band. “I’d been a clarinetist for eight years, but I’d never seen a band like FAMU’s Marching 100,” she said. “Their precision, their energy, how they infused Black culture into everything — it blew me away.”

By the midpoint of her senior year, FAMU was the only choice that made sense. “It was the band, the program, and the chance to fully grow into my identity,” she said.

Her first campus visit sealed it. “The energy was unreal — the pride, the colors, the way everyone carried themselves,” she recalled. “Then I went to a football game that night, and I had never seen that many Black people in one space, just celebrating each other. It was a cultural reset. I knew I was home.”

Her first day as a FAMU student was as intense as it was affirming. “I started pre-drill for the Marching 100 that same day,” she said. “It was chaotic — I was shy and still finding my footing — but I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.”

It wasn’t until the band’s first performance at the Pepsi Battle of the Bands in Houston that everything clicked. “That joy I felt when I applied — it all came rushing back,” she said. “That was my confirmation.”

“FAMU is the university that never sleeps,” Alexandria said with a laugh. “There’s always something happening somewhere.”

She describes the culture as both determined and joyful. “Everyone’s striving for greatness, but we’re also living — really living,” she said. “There’s support in everything you do. That’s something I truly admire, especially as Black students navigating a world that isn’t always in our favor.”

For Alexandria, FAMU has been more than a school — it’s been healing.

“For Black women, it’s so important to learn to love ourselves early,” she said. “I struggled with that for a long time. Coming here, I was nervous my Black identity wouldn’t fit in — but I found people just like me, with their quirks, styles, and brilliance.”

She smiles when she talks about natural hair culture on campus. “My hair’s always been a big part of who I am,” she said. “To be surrounded by people embracing their natural beauty in every form — it meant everything.”

As she approaches graduation, Alexandria’s biggest lesson has been about balance.

“I’ve learned not to lose myself in everything I’m doing,” she said. “Between classes, band, and responsibilities, it’s easy to forget your ‘why.’”

A conversation with her mentor helped her pause and reflect. “She reminded me to remember why I’m here,” Alexandria said. “That grounded me. I’m using this time to realign with my purpose — to make sure I leave FAMU with both success and peace.”

Alexandria’s answer is immediate. “Attending an HBCU — especially FAMU — opens you up to a world of possibilities,” she said. “The connections, the professors, the support — you get everything you need to succeed and to grow as a person.”

She pauses, then smiles. “There’s truly a space here for everyone to shine. The school spirit, the culture — you feel it everywhere, even in the classroom. FAMU makes you believe you can do anything.”