The amazing opportunities provided to me through the out-of-classroom learning at the University of Cincinnati have equipped me with essential tools to succeed in life. This academic year, I had the unique pleasure of having two "reality learning experiences," studying abroad at La Sorbonne in Paris and obtaining an internship with the United States Department of Treasury in Washington, DC. My first reality check was that no one in my student travel groups looked like me, nor did any of them come from a background like mine. This made me understand that as an African-American male, I would have to take risks and be determined to go places that many of my peers have not been able to go. Or in some cases, they have not been interested in going.

One of my most memorable experiences in Paris occurred when I searched for someone who looked like me in order to get their point of view on how people of color are treated there. I met Si Moncef, an immigrant from Senegal, West Africa. "You are just Black," he told me in one of our conversations at a Paris café. "No matter where you come from." 

During my internship at the Treasury Department, I assisted in the planning and logistics for the worldwide G-7 Financial Summit in Washington. I had the opportunity to meet the President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense at several speeches given to the nation on the War on Terror. I also participated in seminars at the Brookings Institute, one of the most respected think tanks in America. 

Through my summer experiences, I realized that I needed to take control of my own destiny. Being a first-generation college student is far from easy. Although neither of my parents had attended college, they, and other members of my family, served as my motivation to experience life beyond generations of poverty and struggle. I was also motivated by past and present African-American leaders – Martin Luther King Jr. and Colin Powell, in particular – who sought experiences beyond the walls of their communities. 

It is hard for me to imagine that anything could com-pare to my Paris and DC experiences and how they have changed my entire thinking process. I never would have imagined that I would be studying at one of the most some of our nation's top leaders. I believe there is a misperception that one has to be the smartest student or at the top of his/her class to even be considered for opportunities such as these. I believe that grades are only one of the factors needed to achieve your goals. 

Initially, I was limiting myself by my own misperceptions, too. I wish I had known more about how to obtain scholarship funds and how to identify the programs that best suited me. But then I started to learn about these things on my own. I learned to search beyond the Internet. I asked questions and I wasn't afraid of being told "no." I positioned myself for opportunities. I learned that some programs lack diversity in their applicants and offer scholarships for African Americans, yet few take advantage of them. I did. 

I think determination and motivation are two key components of achieving success and finding opportunities. I believe that many of our students possess determination and motivation, but lack the resources to achieve their goals. Knowing where to look for information on intern-ships and study-abroad programs and where one can obtain the financial and mentor support is key. Every college student should look into these opportunities by visiting their career centers, attending informational meetings on campus, researching these programs on the Web, and reading publications targeted to our interests, such as THE BLACK COLLEGIAN. 

Ultimately, as African-American students, we must realize the world is changing. We must step up to the plate and change with it. This change starts within the minds of our youth, especially those of us in college today. We must take advantage of all opportunities presented. In return, this will strengthen us individually and our communities as a whole, for generations to come.

Dirk Whatley, Jr. is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in International Affairs/French with a Certificate in Homeland Security and International Security Studies, and Executive Vice President of the ADVANCE student organization. He learned about his internship at the site, www.twc.edu.