Learning That Belonging Is Academic Too

When I first got to ASU, I thought belonging was something extra. I thought it was nice if you found it, but not necessary if you were disciplined enough. My plan was simple: go to class, get good grades, find internships, and stay focused. I was not expecting that one of the biggest factors in my academic life would be whether I felt humanized in the spaces where I was trying to learn. I am in a major where a lot of conversations are framed as objective, practical, and forward-looking. On paper, that sounds ideal. In reality, it sometimes meant people acted like identity had nothing to do with the learning environment. But identity was always there. It was there when classmates talked over me and then repeated my point later as if it had become more legitimate in someone else’s voice. It was there when I felt like I had to decide whether speaking directly would make me seem confident or combative. It was there when group work became another place where I had to manage perception in addition to doing the actual assignment. I remember one particular stretch of the semester when I was doing well enough externally but struggling internally. I was turning everything in, showing up, and getting feedback that I was “doing great,” but I was also carrying a constant low-level tension that never really shut off. It followed me into study sessions, office hours, and even moments that were supposed to feel casual. I realized that I was not just working hard. I was working hard while also navigating how to be read in every room. That was when I started understanding why community spaces matter so much. Being in Black student spaces at ASU changed the equation for me. It gave me a place where I did not have to translate myself before I could be understood. It also showed me that leadership, peer support, and cultural connection are not distractions from academic success. They are part of what makes academic success sustainable. Once I found that network, I noticed a real difference in how I moved through campus. I still had difficult days, but I did not feel as alone inside them. I had people to text after a frustrating class. I had places to go where I could be around others who understood the mental wear of constantly adjusting. I had reminders that my experience was not imaginary or exaggerated. That mattered more than I can explain. People often talk about retention and graduation like they are just numbers. From a student perspective, they are also emotional realities. Students stay where they feel seen, resourced, and connected. They persist where they can imagine themselves having a future. For me, belonging was not a bonus feature of college life. It was part of what made it possible to keep going without losing myself in the process.