Vision Board Workshop at RCC Honors Legacy of MLK
Students at Robeson Community College had a unique way to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week through a vision board workshop. Two workshops were held, one in the morning for ACUMEN (which stands for Accomplished, Credentialed, United Men of RCC) and an open session in the afternoon for students from various disciplines, across campus to attend.
“This is the beginning of the semester, and so we focus on goals, and we also wanted to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” stated Cynthia Quintero, a counselor at RCC. “Because of his vision and dream, we felt this would make more of an impact by creating goals not just for school, but for the community as well.”
Students taking part in the workshop seemed to agree.
“Martin Luther King had a dream, and he stood for it,” LaJada James, a student in the early college stated. “I want to take a stand for my dreams, and I’m going to push, just as he pushed for his.”
James created a vision board showcasing her dreams of traveling and becoming a graphic novelist, creating comics and attending comic con related events.
“I want to travel to famous art places,” James said. “I want to make graphic novels for teens, so kids my age will love it, as I do, I want to get married, but it seems like a faraway idea, so I want to focus on my career for now. I want to be successful, and I hope to find that success through the Early College.”
Justin Velasquez created a vision board using plants as a focal point.
“I want to live in a house full of plants,” Velasquez said. “Plants are lively, they purify the air, and I love the color green.”
Velasquez says he hopes to become a doctor and go into the medical field, saving lives. He also said he wants to live in the mountains and have opportunities to vacation on the coast, as he cut out an ad for the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
“Getting to see your vision in real life and putting it on a piece of paper helps you see it,” Velasquez stated.
With this being in honor of Martin Luther King, Velasquez says it reminds us that “Everybody has a voice and that you must stand up for yourself and your community to achieve your goals.”
“We are one,” Velasquez stated.
Across the student center, Hudson Smith was also busy creating a vision board, but even though he is only in the ninth grade, he says he’s looking forward to having a family and can’t wait to get married.
“I want to have a big family,” Smith said.
“I want an even 4,” he said, referring to children as he clipped photos. “I also want a dog.”
As he flipped through the magazines provided to build his vision board for himself, he said of Martin Luther King, “It was good what he did for our country, and for the world.”
His friend, Nathan Carter, echoed those sentiments.
“He helped us progress forward,” Carter said. “Just look at this table and what do you see? I’m American Indian, he’s white, he’s black, and you see inclusion, and this never would have happened if not for Martin Luther King.”
“As a minority, Martin Luther King really set things in motion for all of us with his inspiring words and brought about the change we see today,” Carter said.
Carter, thankful for the opportunities to take part in the workshop, was looking to create a vision for himself through a bingo card.
“It’s things that I want to accomplish in the future,” Carter stated. “I want to meet LeBron James, I want to work out and get a 6 pack. I want to own property in Egypt. I want to get better at basketball. I want to read the Bible more.”
“It’s good to have a vision,” Carter said. “Creating a checklist like this will help because it helps you stay organized and focused.”
Christian Ballinger and Sebastian Howard could also be seen creating Vision Bingo Cards.
“It’s just things that I want to do in life,” Ballinger said. “I want to graduate high school, travel to a foreign country, learn a new language.”
“It’s my career and personal goals,” Howard stated. “I want to join a club, complete scholarship applications, redecorate my room, read three books, and save money.”
Howard adds, “It’s important to remember Martin Luther King and what he stood for… this activity will help keep me on track with what I want to do and with what I have done.”
And, that’s what organizers hoped to hear.
“The vision board should tell a story,” said Susan Moore, a counselor at RCC. “It’s to help you prioritize goals each day, inspire and uplift you, and it’s a great bonding activity for students as you see here today.”
“We hope through this activity today that students realize that setting goals are important,” Quintero added. “You can’t do it all at once, it takes small steps and creating a plan to realize your dreams and achieve your goals.”
