AS FORMER STUDENTS OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, BONDING WITH FELLOW CLASSMATES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF SIMILAR ETHNICITIES, WAS CRUCIAL TO OUR EXPERIENCES. HAVING ATTENDED PREDOMINANTLY WHITE HIGH SCHOOLS, NEITHER OF US WERE STRANGERS TO BEING WITHIN THE RACIAL MINORITY. HOWEVER, OUR FAMILIARITY DID NOT STOP THE INEVITABLE DISPLAYS OF RACISM, PREJUDICE, AND DISCRIMINATION.

ADDITIONALLY, WE FELT AN ADDED PRESSURE OF DEALING WITH THIS WHILE ALSO STRIVING TO BE EXCEPTIONAL AT INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN WIDELY CONSIDERED AS TOP TIER FOR CENTURIES. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SHARED EXPERIENCE BETWEEN THE MAJORITY OF BLACK STUDENTS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE IVY LEAGUE.

WITH THAT IN MIND, BEFORE GRADUATING, THE TWO OF US SPEARHEADED AN EFFORT TO BRING TOGETHER BLACK STUDENTS FROM ALL 8 IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS, IN ORDER TO CREATE LASTING BONDS. WE COINED IT, “THE BLACK IVY VACAY.” WE DEDICATED 6 LONG MONTHS TO ORGANIZE. FINALLY, ON JANUARY 5TH, 2022, OUR PLAN CAME TO FRUITION AS 30 BLACK IVY LEAGUE STUDENTS TRAVELED TO AKUMAL, MEXICO. OUR HARD WORK WAS MORE THAN WORTH IT.

TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF 28 FELLOW WORLD CHANGERS, WHO LOOKED LIKE US, WAS AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL, INVALUABLE, AND MOTIVATING EXPERIENCE! THIS GROUP MADE US FEEL ACCEPTED, LOVED, AND EMPOWERED.

OUR TIME IN MEXICO WAS SO IMPACTFUL THAT WE WANTED TO SHARE ITS ESSENCE WITH MANY MORE BLACK IVY LEAGUE GRADS. BLACKIVY ACCOMPLISHES THAT BY FORMALIZING A SPACE FOR US TO CELEBRATE OUR BLACK BEAUTY, CREATIVITY, AND EXCELLENCE. WE AIM TO BECOME THE BEST VERSIONS OF OURSELVES WHILE ALWAYS PAYING IT FORWARD TO OUR COMMUNITIES. BLACKIVY MEMBERS INTENTIONALLY COMMIT TO THIS, STARTING BY ENHANCING THE WAY WE SOCIALIZE.