Elise Garner (L), economics major, business administration minor
co-executive student director of Howard University Alternative Spring Break (HUASB)
Andrina Jean (R), speech pathology major, co-executive student director of Howard University Alternative Spring Break (HUASB)

What brought you to Howard University?
Elise: “Attending Howard has been my dream since I was 14. Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, I used to watch A Different World and imagine myself at an HBCU, immersed in the culture, the history, the legacy. When I started researching, Howard stood out—it wasn’t just a University; it was a movement, a beacon for Black excellence. So when that acceptance letter arrived, there was no hesitation. I was stepping into something bigger than myself—a dream years in the making.”

Andrina: “I had such a special childhood, and my dad has been serving active duty in the military since I was born. I got to live and see so many parts of the world, including Guam and Japan, and this unique lifestyle, even though it came with its challenges, allowed me to surround myself with people from all walks of life and learn about cultures that are not my own. As great as this was, I was usually still the only Black girl in my class and never had the opportunity to connect with people who looked like me genuinely. I cherished profoundly learning from people who looked like me, leading with people who looked like me, and growing in myself surrounded by people who looked like me, and I was not going to pass up this opportunity for the world.”

Mission at Howard
Elise: “Howard is more than a school—it’s a training ground for impact. My mission isn’t just to succeed for myself; it’s to take what I’ve learned and pour it back into my community, both here and in the Caribbean. There are so many students back home who don’t realize what’s possible until they see someone who looks like them doing it. I want to be that person.”

Andrina: “My mission at Howard University is to remind my peers to fully embrace their journey of doing what they love and finding spaces that align with who they are and aspire to be. Recognizing that everyone's path is unique. This mission empowers me to keep my love of people at the forefront of everything I do and contribute meaningfully to personal development and the Howard University community.”

Most Cherished Howard Memory
Elise: “My first Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans changed me. As a freshman team leader, I stepped into a space where service wasn’t just an act—it was a responsibility. I saw firsthand how a group of students could make a real, tangible impact on a community, and in turn, how that community could change us. I’ve been committed to HUASB ever since. Three years in, and I still carry that feeling with me—the understanding that wherever I go, whatever I do, I am here to serve.”

Andrina: “One of my proudest moments was seeing my site come to life last year as the Flint, Michigan, site coordinator for the Howard University Alternative Spring Break Program. Having a vision and seeing it through has always been how I express myself creatively, whether hosting a dinner party for my friends, planning a small-scale event, or something as big as HUASB. I was challenged in a way that I had never been before, and it shaped me into the leader I am today, which has opened up doors for me to assume the position I am as one of the co-executive student directors of the program.”

💙 What Makes Howard Special?
Elise: “No matter who you are or where you come from, there’s a place for you here. And that’s what makes Howard home.”

Andrina: “The support system that this school has given me, whether my friends, mentors, staff members, etc., has continually reminded me that I should never put limitations on myself but forge pathways that align with me and my values to reach my fullest potential.”

Make your donations to Alternative Spring Break →

Real HUmans is a series dedicated to telling real stories about real Bison.