Surrounded by students, Ms. Addy Brown shares her stories from college and gives advice to people moving on in life. Brown works with the Go Center, sharing experiences and helping students with their future.
“Some students are very steadfast in their ways, and they don’t want to listen. They’re not as willing to take advice like some are,” Brown said. “Even if you’ve thought about it before and you know this might not work out for you, we try our best to get everyone, but some people don’t take the advice the same way.”
Mansfield ISD implemented the Go Center into every MISD high school, with Legacy working with them since the opening of the school in 2007. The Go Center staff features college recruiting officers, including inspirED, UTA Bound for Success and UNTDCAC.
“College is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re barely scratching through in high school, and you know your college is not for you, now it’s time to plan,” Brown said. “What do you want to do for the next five years? Let’s start a career. Let’s get you salaried. Let’s try to make you a functional person in society. Let’s get some money in your pocket, let’s start working on careers, or if they want to enlist in the military, we can help them do that as well.”
The Go Center staff advises students on things like moving forward with their future, whether they’re going to college or not. The Go Center pulls in every senior, including Emily Nguyen.
“I was lost in college admissions. Some people have siblings and whatnot. They can ask questions about college, but I am the first one in my family to go to college,” Nguyen said. “I feel like going there to ask questions or emailing is nice.”
The Go Center staff answers any questions you may have about how to move forward in your life, what to do for college and if college is worth the money and time.
“I understand [Go Center] may be a waste of time for some people, but like, some people really don’t know what’s going on, or they need that push to commit to college,” Nguyen said. “It’s a good resource if you’re unsure about your essays and you don’t want to go to your English teacher. So I think it’s good. I think people knowing about it would be better for students.”
The goal of the Go Center is to meet with every single senior in the school and have a one-on-one conversation with them to ensure that they have a plan for the next years of their life.
“There’s a differing level of sociability between students, but for the most part, I’ve had really good conversations. My tables have been full just talking with students and giving them my own life lessons from college, especially when they kind of reflect something that I have done,” Brown said. “If they want to go to an HBCU, I graduated from an HBCU. If they’re like a minority student, it’s a little bit easier to connect. I think that’s just like a human thing, where when you see someone who looks like you, you’ll connect better. But even if students don’t look like me and they have a personality, we normally vibe.”
“I even talked to students who came in about illegal dorm cooking. I used to cook so much food in my dorm, and I was not supposed to,” Brown said. “I was looking up how to make, like, lava cake in a crock-pot. I had so much fun in college, and I just want everyone else to be able to have fun and have a balance, but be able to just do what you want.”
Ms. Brown and other advisors in the Go Center focus on putting students in a place where they will be happy, not in debt.
“Have fun. Go out of town. You know what I’m saying, is there a McDonald’s close to you? Is there a Chili’s? Can you get a Triple Dipper? Like, you know what I’m saying? You have to have both an education and a good time,” Brown said. “Like, yes, they have your major if your major is business. Business is everywhere. You can go anywhere and get a business degree. What are you going to do for the next four years, though?”
Ms. Brown said the most important part about college is finding a place where you will fit in and feel comfortable.
“Do they have archery? Do they have a black student organization? Do they have something that you want to do for the next four years? Have fun,” Brown said. “I went to like ten, twelve different states in college for free because I was working with the basketball program. I worked in operations. I went to so many places for free and got food for free. Have a ball. College is for you to have fun.”
College is a place of self-expression and it can be a place for new people, experiences and learning.
“There has to be a balance, but have fun when you’re doing it, you’re there for a good time, not a long time, four years, try to get in and out,” Brown said. “I loved college, and I will always encourage people to go to college. But even if they don’t want to, let’s find a career that’s going to make you love life.
With college being a large event in so many people’s lives, it’s critical that all your questions are answered, and the Go Center is ready to be the place to help you out.
“I’m 21 years old. So I’m here to just talk through life and what I did, and I’m trying to give y’all the most educated direction,” Brown said. “But I’m not here to say don’t go to this school because academics are better. Or go to this school if you want to do business or math or something that every school has. Every school has education, so go where the fun is and go where the money is. Like, don’t go into debt for this degree. Go somewhere like San Antonio. Do you want to go to Sea World and see Shamu, Shamu every day? If you go somewhere near San Antonio, you can.”
