by Camille Coney
With the month of April being Women’s Black History Month, the Tropolitan is highlighting some of Troy University’s Black women and their skills and achievements.
Catelyn Blackmon, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Dothan, Alabama, has taken on many roles since she has been at Troy University. She has been a freshman Forum delegate, a Trojan Ambassador, is President of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), is the University Activities Council public relations coordinator (UAC), and the list goes on. Above all, Blackmon is also a full-time student, working at the IDEA Bank as a marketing advisor while running her own marketing firm called Dreams Agency LLC.
Running a business while in college comes with its challenges, but Blackmon is determined to succeed.
“The leader that I am tells me that I have to run this business, but I also have other responsibilities as far as on-campus responsibilities.” Blackmon said. “So I have to show up, I have to make time for my academics, and I have to make time for my business, and I have to make time to show up as the campus leader I am.”
Destyni Peoples is an alumna of Troy University. She graduated in 2021 with a major in hospitality, sport and tourism management. She is currently working on her master’s degree while also holding a full-time job at Troy University as a coordinator of Student Involvement and Leadership.
Like Blackmon, Peoples is also juggling multiple things at one time. Being a full-time employee while getting her master’s degree can be a bit much at times.
“ trying to keep up with the pace of the online program as my classes, instead of being four months, or two months,” Peoples said. “I got all the information jammed packed really close together on top of having a full load of work and just trying to be a regular young adult.”
When Peoples is feeling down, she thinks of her mother and what she had to go through to get where she is today. Her mother earned a degree in social work, but waited to get her master’s degree until she was around 40 years old.
“I watched her navigate being a parent to two kids under the age of 10 along with a full-time job and going to school,” Peoples said. “I know if she can do it with all that on her plate, then there is no excuse for me not to be able to do it myself when I don’t have any of those obligations.”
Even though some women may feel unappreciated, their hard work continues to inspire others every day.
Ajah Anderson, a senior nursing major from Dothan, Alabama, works at the hospital while also going to school. Anderson said she is on the fence of being appreciated as a Black woman.
“In the hospital, I don’t I feel accepted, appreciated,” Anderson said. “I’m kind of an outcast because I'm surrounded by a majority of white women and white men.
"But here lately we have more advocacy for African Americans so it’s getting better. I guess it just depends on the situation and location.”
All the women said they have plans to continue sharing their stories in hopes of inspiring others.
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