Where It Starts Submission Form

We’re looking for stories for “Where It Starts 2025 - Community Voices”

The “Where it Starts” series strives to inspire others and show what’s possible through persistence, community, and purpose. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of our U of M Black community are invited to share your story about how you overcame an obstacle, found your community, or realized your purpose.

Use this form to tell a story about a point in your life’s journey that led you to where you are today. By highlighting your own path, you may inspire others. Please try to limit your entry to 300 words. Answer any or all of the questions.

Submission Form

i.e. What is your role or association with the University?
Please list your college/department/program affiliation at the University (CLA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, etc.). Feel free to list more than one. 
This photo will be used alongside your story on this website and may be shared via our social media accounts.
One file only.
256 MB limit.
Allowed types: jpg, png.
Ex. she/her/hers
Tell us about a time in your life where you overcame an obstacle in your path, found your community (place), or found your purpose
Where did your journey (as it relates to one of these three themes) start? What moment put you on your path?
How did this change you/What did you learn/discover because of this?
What has been the most challenging aspect of your journey?
My advice for other Black students (regarding education, pursuing their dreams, facing challenges, or however you think you might inspire them)
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The University of Minnesota may use your answers as part of the Where it Starts series and on various University of Minnesota channels, including social media.

Selected "Community Voices" submissions will be displayed between Feb 1-28, 2024. We may edit your submission for brevity, clarity, and content. Please leave your email address and we will contact you and confirm any changes we make.

All submissions become the property of the University of Minnesota, to be used by the University in a manner consistent with the University’s educational mission. The University does not guarantee that an entry will be used. If you have questions following your submission of this form, please contact [email protected].

Community stories

  • Staff
    College/Department/Program:
    College of Veterinary Medicine
    Preferred pronoun(s):
    She, her, hers

    Tell us about a time in your life where you overcame an obstacle in your path, found your community, or found your purpose

    My stumbling block came when I was in third grade, when my teacher struck me and humiliated me in front of the whole… Read the full story of Rosemary Klass

  • Undergraduate student
    College/Department/Program:
    School of Physics and Astronomy, CSE, Astrophysics & Physics major, Minor in Computer Science (class of 2026))
    Preferred pronoun(s):
    she/her/hers

    Tell us about a time in your life where you overcame an obstacle in your path, found your community, or found your purpose

    When I was a freshman and sophomore studying astrophysics and physics, I felt completely alone. I never saw anyone who… Read the full story of Aseila Awad

More stories in this series

From left to right: Dominique Earland, Ayman Elhassan, Akeem Anderson, and Aliya Freburg

Where it starts

Lives and identities are shaped by decades and centuries. They can be forever altered in minutes or seconds. For the individuals and communities who continue to make Black history at the University of Minnesota and beyond, change starts wherever the powers of creativity, vision, and joy meet.