PV Grad Imani Titus is ready to conquer the educational system

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - Growing up in a lower-income community in Houston, Imani Titus envisioned her life taking a different path and felt destined for great things at a young age.

Surprisingly, Imani's original plans didn't include attending Prairie View A&M University. Having spent years surrounded by PVAMU alums, Imani's rebellious spirit led her to select Howard University as her top choice. "I was an avid Prairie View hater," she muses.

But everything changed when she stepped off the bus during a campus tour in the summer of 2019. She felt an undeniable call from her ancestors; PVAMU was where she was supposed to be. Though she didn't initially admit it, Imani knew from the beginning that she was home.

As she posed for her first picture by the PVAMU Panther, her stubbornness wouldn't allow her to concede the truth. It didn't matter either way; the domino tipped, and the chain of events kicked into play. Now, four short years later, Imani is preparing to retake the same photo, but this time in her cap and gown.

Houston Raised, PVAMU Made

Imani attended Title 1 schools throughout her primary school years, and her family often had to make sacrifices to ensure she had the basic needs. But the daily game of survival didn't stop Imani's mother and grandmother from stressing the importance of education. "My granny's favorite saying was, 'Read, read, read.' There's something always to find in the book; there is always something to learn. My mom also kept me in workbooks. She wanted me to be ahead of the class. It was never an option."

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While it wasn't a question of whether Imani would go to college, her family didn't know how they would afford to send her. Thankfully, Imani's and her family's hard work paid off. She received assistance with the FASFA process and numerous scholarship awards, including the Rodeo Award with the Houston Livestock and Rodeo and the PVAMU Presidential Scholarship. "I thank God every day I had a praying grandmother; she put a veil of protection over me," said Imani.

Even with her school paid for, Imani continued to work throughout her studies to compensate for her other living expenses. Balancing school and work, Imani learned to budget and efficiently manage her time.

"Time waits for nobody, especially when you have deadlines. If you know you want to be in bed by a certain time, don't sit on social media for hours because you're not doing anything but sleep depriving yourself and making yourself more stressed."

No longer the wide-eyed, anxious freshman, Imani entered her senior year on a cloud of infinite potential and promises, with everything progressing as expected. But then, Imani lost her best friend, her grandmother.

"Graduation is here, and I'm still here, making it. I thought if this were ever to happen while I was in college, I would just shut down and fall off the face of the map." To have gotten this far without her grandmother, her biggest cheerleader, her number one fan and supporter, Imani knows she is still watching over her.

"Being able to write my honors thesis and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even though I thought life would always be with her, I'm seeing that I am strong enough to go on and to make this accomplishment with her here or with her watching me from heaven."

'Take Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy'

Early in her collegiate career, Imani carried the burden of many first-generation students who seemingly "make it out." Despite her accomplishments, she doubted herself. As the culture shock set in, Imani questioned everything. She was surrounded by a sea of students who were just as intelligent and driven, and some with more extensive support systems and networks. Being a COVID-19 graduate only heightened Imani's anxiety and insecurity.

"I missed out on a lot of things because I didn't know, and I was too afraid to ask. All I had to do was ask somebody and not feel inferior. Other students were legacy. They had resources and people to help them. But see, anxiety is just a voice; it doesn't have any power over you. Your anxiety is you, so break from that. It's hard, but you must be willing to say, 'I got this.' Even if you make a fool of yourself, no one will remember in 10 years or three days, for that matter. I promise you."

It took Imani a beat to realize that no one was judging her but her. She saw that while other students may seem to have it all together, they were all learning. It was a new experience for everyone. As an HBCU, most of the students at PVAMU looked like her, but they were from different backgrounds across the diaspora, and it opened Imani's eyes to a new world outside of her own.

She began to make an effort to expand her perspective, communicating across groups and leaning into student life and her campus community.

The first organization she joined, the Honors Program, significantly helped her transition. It connected her to opportunities, became a place where she could have in-depth conversations about race and barriers that impede the Black community, and gave her insight into navigating collegiate life.

Imani later became a member of Helpers Advance in the Lives of Others (HALO). The community service organization started with 21 members, including Imani, and has now grown to a membership of 200, making it one of the largest student clubs on campus. She also served on the Student Advisory Board, helping to facilitate interactions that improve student achievement and inform education department leaders. In addition to being a founding member of an up-and-coming organization, Panther Educators on the Rise, which she anticipates will expand significantly in the coming generations.

In the hustle and bustle of campus, Imani found people who shared her interests and, in turn, found herself again. "Be yourself, genuinely and honestly. There are people out there who will act and think just like you. You're going to feel so much better in the long run and attract good people that you will carry with you through college, which will make your experience full of fond memories".

Only days away from graduating with a degree in education and a concentration in early childhood through 6th-grade instruction, Imani is surer than ever that attending PVAMU was the right decision.

"I would definitely recommend PV for other first-generation students because the campus is so welcoming. It is a sense of community; it's a family. We may fuss and fight, but at the end of the day, we are all Panthers, and we're proud to say we graduated from Prairie View."

Now, the Real Work Begins

Imani attributes much of Panther Pride to the University's commitment to preserving and ensuring the student body is well-versed in its history. From day one in Panther Camp, students are introduced to the breadth of the Institution's rich culture and legacy. As students learn about the history of PVAMU, they understand the sacrifices made and the people who built and nurtured the University. Students are inspired to continue the fight and do their part to impact the community positively.

For Imani, that means opening a school in a predominantly Black community in Houston to counter the childhood education deficit. She plans to complete a doctorate program to gain the necessary knowledge to ensure students of all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to quality early childhood centers. Imani asserts that without these programs, many Black youth are at risk.

"Even if it's just a year, that's a year of phonics learning and basic math skills that they're not doing. There are students in fifth grade who still don't have the basics, but with our current promotion system, they're just passed on."

Imani's own privilege isn't lost on her. She didn't have much money, but the guidance and affirmation she received from her family made the difference. Her mother wouldn't allow Imani's mind to be idle and fall prey to negative influences. "My brother, 21 years older than me, told me I'm doing something he always wanted to do." Imani feels blessed to have been raised in a household that stressed the importance of education, a belief system that guided her to PVAMU. Now, she wants to help future students have the same opportunity to do better.

Imani aspires to become versed in pre-K through 12th-grade education and use her experience, research, and knowledge in diverse curricula to serve the spectrum of student needs. "Our students are experiencing drugs, gun violence, domestic violence, and hunger; all these factors are keeping them from focusing on their education. If they're worried about getting fed, they're not worried about homework or school the next day."

Imani initially majored in nursing; coming from a long line of healthcare professionals, nursing seemed to be a natural choice. That all changed when Imani started working as a lead teacher at a daycare. She found her passion. From then on, Imani has been drawn to education, especially working with younger grades. "It takes a special person to work with the smaller children."

While today's youth have many post-high school options, Imani believes college has something for everybody. "It's a different refinement that comes from college. It's not just academics; it's social skills, something as simple as how to write an email, speak to somebody professionally, or elevate your diction to fit into different spaces. I want future generations to know that knowledge is power."

Imani is excited to step out into the world and begin laying the foundation for her professional career. She plans to start her master's in education this fall while she teaches second grade. Still, she is sad to move on from the campus that's accepted her without judgment and helped her grow into a wise, thoughtful young woman and scholar. Saying goodbye to PVAMU, which has been a huge part of her life, a haven that's provided protection, cultivation, fellowship, and comfort, is bittersweet. She will miss so much about "The Hill" but is eager to dive into the education sector and create generational change, which she believes is her duty as a proud PVAMU Panther.

Clickhereto view more of this semester's notable graduates.

By Whitney Stovall

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