News | October 7th, 2019

FAMU Alumnae Promote Positive Transformation

By: Akilah Winters

Last Thursday, the State of the FAMU Women Forum was held in the north wing of the 

School of Business and Industry of FAMU. In light of homecoming, the event was created to allow women to feel inspired, empowered, and motivated to keep moving up in their careers and for women to “maximize their potential.” The seats of the SBI lecture hall were filled to capacity with FAMU students and alumni who waited patiently for the event to start.

The two panelists, Rashan Ali and Melissa Mitchell, are FAMU SJGC alumnae and members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Ali is currently a host of the Sister Circle, a talk show that talks about trending topics where she shares her thoughts on events happening in everyday life. Mitchell is an artist who uses her vibrant and bold colors in her fashion and art to express her nature.

“The experience that I had here on the highest of seven hills is unmatched,” said Ali. ”The beauty of it was that I was able to love Black people from all walks of life.”

They also shared their experiences on how they got to where they are today. Ali and Mitchell share their struggles after they graduated from FAMU. They both had unexpected events in their life after graduation which led to a late start in their careers. 

Ali and Mitchell took these moments as learning opportunities and looked at it as the beginning chapters of who they were becoming as women. Mitchell focused on how FAMU helped prepare her for her unexpected moments and career changes.

Throughout the event, the two Rattler women stressed the importance of networking within one’s space and making sure that those people are positive. 

“Don’t let someone’s bad energy get on you, protect your energy, it is transferable,” said Ali. “Your energy says hello before you do.”

They also discussed the spiritual aspects of how they live their lives, and how it has helped them in their lowest moments.

“You have to write down your wins and miracles, remember those things in your low moments,” said Mitchell.  “I am the master manifester, I write things down over and over again until it happens it might take years, but I know it does not happen overnight.”

“Let your mistakes be your biggest teachers. Do not keep making the same mistake; call someone who knows something you do not know,” said Mitchell.

Julie Julien, a fourth year biology student, believes that this event truly helped her understand the definition of women empowerment and how to build her brand.

“Hearing the different perspectives allowed her to understand what having a platform truly is,” said Julien. “We have all these strong black women on campus and we need to put our talents together.”