What No One Really Tells You About College That You Must Know

I was wandering through the shelves at my local library looking for books on internships. Since I’m a little late on my internship game, I wanted books that listed various internships, books that told you how to get internships, books that suggested different ways to find internships within your community, books with strategies on how to get the most out of your internship, and just anything about internships. That’s when I stumbled across Sheryl Walker’s The Black Girl’s Guide to College Success: What No One Really Tells You About College That You Must Know. What a tell-all title! And this book does exactly that.

I started with the chapters that were most significant to me, since I graduated from college exactly two years ago, and I read through the tips that interested me most. The internship section is very through, starting with how to craft the best resume to get you the interview, how to be well prepared for the interview (with what to wear, researching the company beforehand, questions to ask, how to woo them by being yourself), and the protocol after the interview. She even gives good information on how to milk your internship, i.e. getting a mentor. Very impressed with the first chapter I read, I had to head over to the chapter on mentors. I struggle with networking and maintaining strong professional relationships, so this was very insightful. She mentions the easy little efforts like sending a follow-up email within twenty-four hours that can really make a difference.

She even goes into studying abroad, which I’ve done and cherish with all my heart, and not being too hard on yourself. And the relationship section plainly states “Don’t Hook Up Too Soon,” but she takes a realistic attitude on all the situations young women find themselves in at this age and even after college. From being the girlfriend, not the girl on the side and groupies to break-ups, to sex, sexual assaults, and ways to weed out the bad apples so you can grab a good guy, she touches on it all, honey!  

This little book is stuffed with tons of great advice in everyday language. Overall, it’s just an encouraging book that helps any women from teens to young adults through these years of transition. If you are going through it, odds are this book touches on it with the healthy and practical tips to keep you moving through to the other side. I’m glad I came across The Black Girl’s Guide To College Success. This book is for us, but it’s written so well and the advice is so relevant that any girl can relate to it and learn from Walker. It’s a gem; I think I’ll buy my own copy!

They say these are the best years of our lives, but this is a rough transition. All I can do is really cherish the good moments and say to myself, "This too shall pass," through the bad.       ♥ Britt T