Melanin Crush Monday: "Our Peachy Gator"
On the University of Florida campus, a great deal of students are Floridians from cities as big as Miami and Tallahassee, to as small as Immokalee. However, every now and then you come across what we call an "out-of-stater" Gator, like Ms. Rik’ki Jackson.
Jackson is a fourth year African American Studies major from Atlanta, Georgia. This Georgia Peach has always had her eyes set on calling the University of Florida home.
“Being from Atlanta, everyone always ask me, ‘Why not [University of Georgia] or [Georgia State University]?’ ” said Jackson. “Despite the ridiculousness of out-of-state tuition, UF was always my dream school.” Jackson had dreams of starting a legacy for her family outside of the lines of Georgia, and thought Florida would be the ideal location.
Since relocating to from Atlanta to Gainesville, Florida four years ago, Rik’ki declares Gatorship as one of her most memoriable experiences here at UF. “I could only describe this experience as life-changing” Rik’ki says.
Gatorship is weekend retreat that allows student leaders to engage is conversations and activities addressing issues that affect multicultural societies.
Attending during the spring semester of her freshman year, Rik’ki accounts Gatorship as one of the
defining moments of her time here at UF. “Gatorship taught me how to both understand and embrace diversity, something that is essential both during your time here at UF and in the real world.”
We wanted to take the time out to salute the out-of-state Gators for making the University of Florida campus a more diverse environment. Our experiences here would not be the same without all of you.