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Hey everybody, and welcome to Echoes of the Yard. My name is Kendyl Terrell. I'll be your host. I'm a soccer player here at Jackson State University, and this podcast will be all things HBCU. If you know me and you'll get to know Cobb, we are all about HBCUs and you're going to get the good, the bad, and some things you don't hear about it. For the first episode, I'm joined with one of my closest friends and one of my teammates, Olivia Cobb. Say hey. Hey. Thanks for coming on. Like, you know, it means a lot to me just you supporting me and everything. So we got some topics to hit. So let's just dive in. I want to start with your background. Like, just tell them about yourself because, you know, I know a little bit, but I think your story is pretty great. So let's just hear about yourself.

Okay. So I'm from Greensboro, North Carolina, and I've been playing soccer since I was like two and a half, three years old. My parents just kind of put me in it to just give me something to do. Like, neither of my parents played. I think I had, my older sister did play, but it was just like a recreational thing. And then when I got into rec and stuff like that, and they were like, oh, like, you're actually kind of good. Like, you should go play club. So I'm like, at first, everybody has, I think, initially, their odds, like the big D1 dream, like everybody wants to go to Carolina and all this other stuff.

And just culturally, based off like what I was around and stuff like that, eventually came to the realization that it was just like HBCU or bus for me. Like, if I wasn't going to play soccer at HBCU, I was going to go to HBCU in Greensboro and just be a student. Do you have like a specific reason for that? Well, I was raised in HBCU culture. So I went to high school at the STEM early college at North Carolina A&T, and both of my parents are HBCU grads. So it was kind of like instilled within, I guess, like my family and my lineage and stuff like that. And also just the, just some of the societal inacceptance of being a Black person playing a predominantly white sport. I was like really tired of that.

I was like, I need to get into an environment where I'm a part of the majority. I was just like, I need to be with my people. No, yeah, I definitely understand that. Growing up and like playing travel with me, I was dang near one of the only Black girls on the team. And it was just like, they didn't really look at me to become a friend to them. They just knew me as a friend. And so I was like, I need to be with my people. And it was like, I was an asset basically. So yeah, that's good. And you talked about the STEM early college at NC A&T. Tell me a little bit about that. Like, how was that for you? I know, like, that's pretty interesting to me.

So I want to hear about it. Let me dive into it a little bit. It had its ups and its downs. So going into high school, I went from a predominantly white middle school to the STEM Early College at A&T. And at STEM Early College at A&T, even though there were less than 200 total students, it was a very diverse population. Like you had people from all different types of cultures, backgrounds, races, and everything. And I learned a lot about the importance of being surrounded by people who experience other things, religion, race, culture, all the above. The first two years, so they pretty much shrank four years of high school into two years. So your first semester of your freshman year of high school is like your first semester.

Well, your first year of traditional high school is your first semester of high school. So you're like, I don't know, at STEM. And then it pretty much goes like one semester is one year in college. I mean, one semester is one year in high school. And then the final two years of high school are, you're a full-time college student. So I was taking 12 credits at A&T. So when I transferred, or not transferred, but when I graduated from high school and came to Jackson State, I had like 47 credit hours going towards my degree. So that's how I graduated early. Okay. So, like, so when did you realize that, like, you were good enough to play college soccer? Like, when did you realize it was like, okay, like, nah, like I got a, I got a real shot at this.

Like I can do this. Um, honestly, it was probably like my junior year of high school. I'd always wanted to go play, but I never really saw it as like a, it was always like a dream. I never saw it as something that was like reachable or attainable. Oh, like maybe like, yeah, it's something I'd want to do, but I know I was, I'm far ways away. And it was really interesting. Cause like when I, I felt like I was getting towards my peak when I, what I felt like was my peak at the time, I felt like I got hurt. I was throwing my meniscus. I had to have surgery. And then the recovery for that was really hard because it was during COVID.

So rehab and stuff like that, it was not as clear cut as it used to be. Like they were all these restrictions, all this yada, yada. They try to do inpatient outpatient type of thing. And then whenever I was able to play again, college coaches weren't able to come to our tournaments. They had to like watch how we're real and stuff like that. So I was like, dang, like when I finally felt like I was getting good, like now I'm not going to be able to go anywhere. Cause COVID messed me up. Right. You mentioned your knee injury. And like, we kind of have the same story. Like when I feel as though like I was at my peak, I messed up my knee. I was out for nine months.

So like, it was kind of just like, I was like, dang, nobody's going to want me like, but I went the Juco route, obviously. Like I went Juco first and it definitely, I think that's when I learned that it was HBCU or nothing because my Juco was like predominantly white. And like, I played with a bunch of white girls and I was like, I can't keep doing this. Like I was, I was looked at just as a stat, like what I could do for them. I was never looked at as a person. And like, you also, um, we're talking about how, like when you were at your peak, you had a setback. So like, did that like fall to your emotions about thinking you had a college dream?

Like, Oh, like where were you thinking once at the Zoom call and like them seeing you play, like what, what happened? Like, where was your head? Well, after I got hurt and I was kind of realizing how my rehab and stuff was going, I definitely had to sit down and talk to my parents at the dinner table. I remember this vividly. I was just like, y'all don't hate me. Don't feel like you don't wasted your money trying to get me to play soccer and college in soccer. But I don't think this; I'm going to do it. Like, I think just go to A&T and be a student and be happy. Cause I knew that I didn't want to go. Cause the only school that I was really looking at at the time, was like a private D2 school.

It was a Catholic school here in North Carolina. And when I toured it for the first time, you know, I was like, Oh, like that was my first tour. I was very happy. I was like, Oh yeah, I can see myself coming here. And then when I toured it the second time, I was just like, it's just not a fit. I love the coaches, but as a university and somewhere I can see myself, I was just like, it's probably not going to work. So I'll just go to A&T and I'll just go to school. I had really given up on the thought of playing soccer in college. My dad was just like, you just got to see it out. Cause I was kind of ready to quit during the season.

Cause our season wasn't even over yet. So I was just like, you know what, what's the point? And my dad was like, well, you started it, you're going to finish it. So. Okay. So like, tell me, tell me about your, then like your recruiting process. Like what led you to Jackson State? Oh goodness. Okay. So this was my senior year of high school. This was our last ECNL tournament. We played in Greer, South Carolina. And, when I tell you, like, you know how I was saying, like, when I thought I hit my feet before I got hurt after my long extended recovery period, because I think it was supposed to be three months. It ended up being like five and a half, six, because, because everything. So I was able to play again.

Finally, I went off that tournament. Okay. Like best, probably best. Yeah. Yeah. So then a couple of days later, I get an email from Coach and he's, um, I still have, I think I still have the email, but he was pretty much just like explaining to me where the program was, what it was about, and how it was on the rise and stuff like that. So I look it up and I'm like, Jackson State University. They say Jackson, Mississippi. I said, Mississippi. Not too much, not too much Mississippi native here. Not too much. You're right. But I'm just like, I can't do it. It's too far from home. It's too hot. It's in the deep South. I was just like, there's no way. And so I sent it to my parents.

I was like, ha ha, look at this. Like, ha ha. But then he, my dad was like, Oh, like just my parents, like, just give it a chance, like do some more research and stuff like that. So I got on a Zoom call with Coach and he was just, you know, the way coaches do, they just advertise to their school with things that they can offer, things that they bring to the table, and what they want you to do or what they see for you in their programs. And I was like, okay, you know, like I'm interested, but I'm not fully like there. So my parents were like, we're not going to let you commit anywhere that you haven't gone.

And during that time, official and unofficial visits were kind of, um, like they weren't allowed or whatever the rules were just because it was COVID and stuff like that. So it wasn't like something I could be like, Coach, I'm going to come on an official visit. And he was like, if you want to visit, you have to do that on your own. I can't have any parts in that. So I went on a tour and it was good too, because even though it wasn't A&T, it kind of felt like A&T a little bit, just like the vibe and the aura and stuff like that. So after the day was over, I was just like, yeah, like I can see myself playing here. And I kind of gave, I let coach sweat a little bit.

I didn't let him know for a couple of days. Good. You know, you got to play hard to get. I was like, yeah, I'll come. So I guess so. Okay. So when you got there, like, how would you rate your overall experience at JSU? First, like, let me hear it as a student. Like, what do you think, like your biggest struggles, your bigger, like your bigger ups, like the opportunities that you wouldn't have got at a PWI that you got from your HBCU as a student? We'll get into athlete after. I think it's, at an HBCU, I think it's a little bit more family-like. Like everybody, you get to know your professors on a personal level. They get to know you by name. I think at a lot of PWIs, they're a lot bigger.

So you may have like hundreds of students in your classes at times, and you may not get that one-on-one connection with some of your professors. But like, I have professors that I've had since my freshman year. So we've gotten to be cool. We've gotten to know each other and stuff like that. It's a big community aspect as well. I think everybody tries to look at each other. And I think it's a big community aspect as well. I think everybody tries to look out for each other, even in the same way that you get to know your professors, you get to know the people at the cap, you get to know the people at the security gates. Like, it's just very, it's very tight-knit.

It almost seems like, and it seems like everybody's always trying to look out for you as opposed to just like, you having to figure it out on your own. Right. So, I think that's one thing that HBCU culture offers a lot too, is just, we like this, we know that we all be got. Yeah, for sure. And I think it also likes offered like a sense of safety in the like, in the sense of like job opportunities and internships. Yeah. You didn't have to worry about being Black because everybody was Black or everybody was a different ethnicity. So like, I think that I can definitely agree with you. Like, it just, it just feels like a family. It feels as though like, I don't have to worry about a girl getting it over me because of the color of my skin.

Yeah. But so let me hear, let me hear about your experience as an athlete. You know, we kind of, we're all on the same team, but we obviously have our own, own experiences and you've been here since freshman year. So let me hear about it. Like, how was your experience as an athlete? I think it took me some time to get used to. First, obviously, like this was my, when I first came my freshman year, that was my first time being away from home. So it was a lot of homesickness, a lot of this, I was just a mess emotionally, I think. And I tried to just focus on my purpose for being here. I was there, I was a student athlete. I was there to make a good case and play soccer.

And that's really what I fixated on because it helped distract me from, you know, I was there to make a good case and play soccer. And that's really missing home and all this type of stuff. Like, you know how our preseasons get, you too busy to be emotional. You too busy. But as soon as that preseason ended, I was just like, oh my God, like, I need my mom. I need my dad. Like I miss my dad. Like all this stuff. But I don't really, I couldn't necessarily say I've had any true issues. When you think about, I think, I guess my mindset has shifted a little bit. Like in the mindset that I'm in right now, when you have to consider all the other, hardships and struggles that people go through on a daily basis.

Like, if the hardest thing about my day is the fact that I've been out in the sun for four hours, that's a win compared to somebody else's. That's what I'm saying. Like, I feel like it can be some, but the first, the biggest challenge I think I had to overcome though, was that heat. It's not, it's not like, what do you think you had to do to make that switch? Like what, what, like, what did you do to take the time out and be like, okay, like this, uh, this is what I'm going to focus on because this happened. This, I took the time out to do this. Like, what did you do to get to that mindset? Because, you know, it takes a lot, like it takes a lot of maturity.

It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot to be like, okay, let me look at other people's perspectives, other people's stories. Like what did it, like, what, what did you do to get to that switch? Honestly, Kendall, I don't even know, like you hear some people's stories and they're just like, it was just like, it was like a switch for me. It was like a, this is life-altering moment, but I just had to sit down and realize with myself, like, this is what you're here to do. Like, you're not, it takes a lot of, like, obviously I would like call my parents and stuff like that. They'd see how emotional I was and stuff like that. And they're like, this is what you've been working towards your entire soccer career.

Like, this is what you want it. You want it to play soccer at the Division One level. You're here playing soccer at the Division One level. Like, you got to take advantage of this opportunity and grasp it. Like not everybody gets that chance. Like they say that only 3% of high school players make it to the Division One level. Like, you're in a very privileged opportunity to be able to take advantage of it. And you have to like, but I can't even say that. It was like, like they were saying that to me and I'm just like, dude, but you don't know. Like, you don't, you wouldn't know. Like, you wouldn't know if you weren't here. Like, yeah. You take a mark in my shoes and you will understand how I'm feeling.

They're like, we get it to an extent, but from the outside looking in, like you can't stop now. You've come too far to come this far. You started putting what they said into perspective, basically. Yeah. And I was just like, I'm just, I'm here. My life don't make the most of it. Like if I'm going to be 12 hours away from home, I better be good. Right. Oh yeah, for sure. I definitely agree with that. So like, what was it like to be like as a black athlete in a predominantly white sport, but playing at an HBCU? Cause you know, we got our, we got our games when we played PWIs and like, it's like they already had their stereotype and they also, they already like, oh, we're about to win because we're playing at HBCU.

What is that like for you? Like, what is that like getting on the field every time when we play a non-conference game? Like what you be thinking? How do you be feeling? It's definitely infuriating because you hear a lot of times other schools like put you on the schedule because it'll be like, oh, just an easy match. And just, they expect to win. To walk all over you just because you go to an HBCU. It's very disappointing. And, but that I think is what drives me to play so hard. Like I don't ever; I think every good player plays from a deeper place than themselves. Like if you're only playing for yourself, you - you may not reach your fullest potential. For me, I've always played for the respect of HBCUs and black soccer players, period.

Like it's always - I've always taken situations like that as a chance to like prove yourself. Yeah. Like, you know, I've always been able to prove others, the stereotypes wrong and stuff like that. Like, especially whenever. Cause like I know my freshman year, those games used to do exactly what they, the other teams intended for them to do. Like we used to get blown out by these PWIs and stuff like that. Now, most recently, like, you know how we just, we won that spring game and even in the fall, even though those games didn't go our way, like they were still close and then we still, we did win one of them. So it's like, I think over time we are gradually earning the respect of HBCUs. Yeah.

That we should have been had in the first place. It's not like they will play other teams in their conference and be like, oh, we're going to walk all over them. It's probably like, this is going to be a good game. Okay. So do you think playing at an HBCU has made your college sports easier or harder for you? I can say 50/50, but I think the hard was like worth it. Like it was worth it for me to appreciate my sport more, but let me hear it from your perspective. Yes and no. Okay. Because like, I think it, from a relatability standpoint, I think we have like locker room conversation and stuff that we talk about that happened, like common black experiences, common experiences of black women that we talk about, we joke about it's like, oh, like you relate to this too.

I thought it was just me from a cultural standpoint. Yeah. I think I can agree with you. What you're saying is kind of 50-50, because also within like, for whatever reason, there's this like inherent competitiveness between the two. And I think, I think that's the biggest barrier that we have to get over next, because we have to start realizing that we're not in competition with each other when it comes to playing against other teams. We're trying to uplift and uphold each other to a good standard so that we can fight these other teams together and not fight each other at the same time. Yeah. 100%. I think, and I like just my personal opinion, I think that stimulates from coming from a predominantly white sport because majority of us growing up, we're like, oh, I'm going to play with a bunch of white girls.

And like, so the transition to play with people that look like us and share the same skin tone as us is kind of like a whole culture shift because we think, because every time I showed up to a practice for like travel ball or whatever, I felt as though I was fighting to be heard. I continued to show up like my skills wasn't loud enough for me to be a person. So I think the shift from playing with majority white girls and coming to a team with girls that look like me, it was just kind of like, whoa, like I had to take a step back. And like the first year for me was really hard because I was like, I was like, wait, I don't, I don't have to be anybody.

I'm not like, I don't have to act like this. I don't have to walk on eggshells now. Like I can just be myself. I think it was just that shift. But I also think like, just keeping it real and keeping it honest, like, you know, you see a bunch of people, they want to go to the SEC. They want to go to the power five, like HBCUs is probably like on the bottom of the D one NCAA bracket. Like if we're just putting it out there, statistically, like that's just how it is. That's just what people say. And I think like black girls in a predominantly white sport want to go to those big schools. So like, I'm not saying we get the bottom of the barrel because we both go there, but I'm just saying like the, I guess the playing, it was a different shift for me coming from PWI to an HBCU.

It was a, it was a bit of a shift, but I think my, I, what I appreciate more about HBCUs is like the grit. Like it is so strong. I think that we have a lot of girls that we play against and we play with put in. It's just like, what? Yeah. I don't think I've ever seen that until I came to HBCU. What's your perspective on that? And if you feel comfortable, I would like, I would love to like for you to share a time when you experienced racism while playing soccer. I like, because you know how important like mental health and that plays a big part in especially the sport we play. So if you don't mind, if you have one, you can explain.

If you don't feel comfortable, we can move on, but what you got? So I definitely, what you were saying about like the grit within our sport and stuff like that. I definitely think that is a major, well, within our conference specifically. I think that's a major part of it. I think even people who play in these big conferences, like the SEC and the ACC stuff like that, I think they would have a hard time if like say one of them decided to transfer to Jackson State, right? I think they'd have a hard time getting used to it because you don't know. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's kind of like cultured. I remember my first day, my freshman year, I got put on my butt, straight on my butt.

I was like, never again. It was kind of like my welcome to Jackson moment. I was- Yes. We all have that moment. Yeah. But as far as like facing any racism within my sport up until, I don't think I can say, I can't point out a specific instance that has happened straight to my face. And I'm saying that with the asterisk because I want to put emphasis on straight to my face. Right. I don't know. I don't know what's happened behind my back. There's obviously like these biases that you feel, especially like from my, my inner, just like between my teammates and everybody else is that thing that's at the function, but I coincidentally didn't get in.

And then there's always this, like, I guess there was, I felt like there was just this heavy stigma placed on me as being like, I know you've always mentioned, like people put the stigma on you of like the angry black woman. I think I've always had the stigma placed on me. Like if I'm not going out of my way to be super cheerful and super outgoing and stuff like that, people assume that I'm mean or I'm mad or I'm upset, yada, yada. When the whole time me being in the same mood as like one of my fellow white teammates comes across differently. So I wouldn't even say no, like flat out racist things, but I can definitely, I feel like some of the microaggressions and I feel some of the, I definitely think microaggressions, my race has played a factor in.

Your personality, people assume. Yeah. And just like the way my emotions are presented as if I'm not just, you know, just feeling the same thing that everybody else would. For me, I'm mad for her. She's just quiet, you know? Yeah. Okay. To take a complete shift. So what's like one of your favorite soccer memories? Like what's good? Like give a, give a positive. What's the first thing that comes to your head? It'll probably, it's probably college. When we won the SWAG championship, obviously, but it was also really special to me because my dad was able to come. He was able to be there. And I remember like when that final whistle blew, like I just ran over, I climbed that brick wall. Speaking of that moment, now let's rewind a little bit.

So in the last three seconds of the second half, it was the last three seconds of the second half, they tied the game 2-2. We had to go into double overtime. So Ms. Cabo here was crying. On the field. I was like, Cabo, you got to get it together. We got 10 minutes to play. Let's go. She was like, I can't do this. I was like, yes, you can. So talk about that moment. Let, like, let them hear about this moment. What was going through your head? Like when you saw that we had to play two more 10 minute halves, like what was going on? And we were so close. We were up 2-0. No. First of all. First of all. I was scared. I was like, I was tired.

I was tired. I was like, 'I'm not, I can't, I can't make it through another 20 minutes.' It was so hot. It was so hot. I had a full-blown panic attack. I was just like, 'This is another 20 minutes.' Like I, I was just like, 'What else?' Because I know that we're not, I knew at the time that we were not a 'come from behind' team. We're very much of a 'get an elite, stay in the lead' team. So I'm just like, 'I don't know how this.' Coach is going to rip into us. We're never going to hear about, we're never going to hear the end of this for the next few years. If we lose this game, like everything is going through my mind at the same time.

I was like, 'My knee hurts.' My dad's here. I don't want to lose in front of my dad. Like this is going to be embarrassing. Embarrassing. Oh my gosh. Yeah. It was a very low, low and then a very high, high. So I forgot about the low, low. And then my dad brought it up when I came back home. I was like, why'd you have to do that? Okay. After all this and like your journey to your HBCU, your experiences at your HBCU, and we have another year left, how has all this impacted your mental health? Like, where are you at right now? Like, where did you start? Like, or are you going through, like, what was the biggest impact on that? I think it taught, the biggest thing that it taught me was to stay patient with yourself.

And you know how they, like the old saying goes, like the best way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans. You have to realize that, like, things may not always happen the way you want them to. Right. Like, from going to the point before I came to Jackson State, like I was, it was really like a month and a half, two months before that tournament that I got recruited at that I was ready to quit. I was like, cool. And then in such a short time, I was like, oh, wow. Like somebody, for the first time in my career, I actually felt wanted. Like I was wanted somewhere. Like, I feel like I'd always just been another player, like you were saying, like on other teams.

Like, I was just like. Like, you know, you're here when, and this was like a time when I was getting recruited. Like that was the first time I actually felt like I was needed and wanted and desired by a place. So that was really like what drew me to Jackson State. And then like throughout my entire collegiate career, like that feeling has never wavered. And it wasn't just, we want you to play well. We want you to do good at school. We want you to be happy. We want you to be healthy. We want you to be the best version of yourself. Yes. We want you to be a good team. Hey, you know how Coach always talks about being a good teammate.

He wants you to be the best version of yourself so that you leave the program better than you came into it. And I can confidently say that over the past like four years, like it has really been almost like life changing, I think. And like my mom talks about it sometimes. She's like, yeah, like I don't even, like some of the, in the best way possible, like you're not even the same person that you used to be. And I'm just like, I don't feel like the same person I used to be because I feel like I'm at a much better place where I understand the importance of doing things. Besides just doing them for yourself, like the bigger purpose of things and stuff like that.

So do you think he would have gotten that experience from at another HBCU or do you think Coach plays a big part? Like shout out to Coach Ted. Yeah. Big shout out to Theodore. Yeah. Big shout out to Coach Ted. He, um, he wants you as a person. He wants you to be the best person you can possibly be. Like, and he, he gets offended if you don't build a relationship with him and I respect that 100%. So shout out to him. But do you think like he played a big part? And your experience on why you felt as though like you were accepted? Yeah, definitely. Like you were saying, like, there's not many coaches you're going to come across that are like him.

There's not many coaches that want you to spend time with him and spend time with your teammates and get to know him and get to know your teammates. He, he really cares. Like, regardless of if you're playing well, even if you're not playing at all, he's not fixated on, okay, I want you to be the best version of you after you're the best soccer player. He wants you to be the best version of yourself first. Yeah. And I think that's, that's the thing that you don't get with a lot of college coaches. Like you hear these horror stories about these coaches that people have come across. Like, I've heard yours. I haven't had the same experiences because this is like my first, I was blessed to have this be my first and only school.

Right. But I can't even confidently say that you get the same experience at another HBCU. Like it's, it's really a TED experience. It's the TED experience. It's the theatre effect. I promise you. It's like, it will change you because she can tell you from first point of view. The person I came as Jackson State is not the person I am right now. And it's all because like, um, like our coach, like he believed in me and he knew that deep down I was a teddy bear. I wasn't all what looks at the surface. What advice do you have for other student athletes struggling with mental health, especially Black girls participating? I think it's important to realize that putting yourself first is not a bad thing.

And I also think just as a Black community, mental health is not a topic that is seriously looked at. It's not a topic that's like taken seriously. Like, you know, a lot of Black people think that therapy is a joke or mental health, you know, is just like one of those things you just get over and stuff like that. I think it's important as a Black student athlete to know that like your feelings are validated. Your feelings are always validated. I love that. It's okay to not be okay. Right. And it's okay to need help becoming okay. So before I get into the last question, is there anything else you want to share about your story or experience as a student athlete at Jackson State? Like anything else you want to share?

Any encouragement for girls that don't think HBCUs are the way because they think it's less than like anything you want to say? I'll say that I love my HBCU. It is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love. Go back. Don't treat it as if. It is a fallback option or a stepping stone. Yes. Because that is the biggest way to not appreciate it for what it actually is. I think the people who come through here that are just like, oh, I'm not going to stay here for long. Like I'm just going to use, excuse me, this to get somewhere else. Or if the people that are like, oh, I'll go here because I have no other option. Those are the people who end up having issues coming through our program or coming through.

And thinking it's going to be easy. I think people who come in here thinking, oh, it's HBCU. Of course, I'm going to play. Think it's going to be easy. Instead of like going in like, well, like you or me. Because like playing at HBCU was always my dream. Like I want to play at HBCU. I want to be with black girls that are good at soccer too, like. So, I think it's just like a different type of appreciation. And you can tell the difference between people that are like, oh my gosh, I'm finally here. And like, oh, it's just another, like, it's just for right now. It's the right now. So yeah. Yeah. So our last question is presented by our sponsor, Cricket Wireless. So shout out to Cricket. Shout out Cricket.

Proud supporter of HBCU. HBCU culture and community. How has going to an HBCU influenced the person you are today? I think I can also attest to having put up this very closed-off front, you know, we cool. Right. But I'm a very hard door to knock down sometimes. And I think the welcomingness and openness of the Jackson State community, like coming from strangers that I don't even know. The willingness to help you, the willingness to just have your best intentions at heart, seeing that and being able to get that from complete strangers that don't even know my name. Yeah. It's been like, okay, maybe I can let my guard down a little bit. Yeah, you're just a little onion. You got a lot of layers too. Yeah.

It's the very, you know, tough door to knock down. And I think the welcoming, like I was saying, the overwhelmingly niceness coming from strangers that I didn't even know, that I probably didn't even deserve it from. Taught me a lot about just being more personable, being more welcoming. And that's not to say like I was this like super like mean person. I was just like very, a little standoffish. Right. You know, so I think that's the biggest thing. Just guarded. HBCU, yeah. Yeah. That's definitely the word I would use. I think that's the biggest thing that an HBCU has taught me and just the value in community and family.

I love that. Well, thanks for joining me, Cobb. It was great to have you on my first episode. It definitely knocked the nerves out. You helped me just have a conversation. And so I'm so excited to see what's to come. And I just really appreciate you. Yeah, no problem. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to see who else gets to come on here. They'll have a hard-witted top. Listeners, thanks for tuning in. We've got a great line of guests and we'll be talking about HBCUs from all angles. So make sure you rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss out on more Echoes of the Yard presented by Cricket Wireless. Thank you.