Lenise Bostic’s family is the definition of an HBCU legacy.
Days before rolling out’s “Because We Met HBCUs: Road to Success” (powered by Genesis) event in Atlanta on Aug. 22, Bostic spoke about what Florida A&M University means to her family.
What was it like being a part of the Marching 100?
I [enrolled at FAMU] in the fall of 1995. My husband and I both graduated from Redan High School, so we escaped the family, not knowing exactly what was going to happen and what it was going to be like, but we both came up in the Marching 100.
He played the trumpet, and I played piccolo. It was a wonderful and exciting experience. You’re always scared when you don’t know what you’re going to walk into entering college. But, getting there, you learn about the band’s motto of having the highest quality of character and academic achievements. They focus on leadership, musicianship, precision, marching and dedication to service.
We now [include] that in our family life. Even 30 years later, we’re still talking about [those ideals] with our children, and our children have now [enrolled at] FAMU and have been a part of the Marching 100.
The system and logistics they have around it work.
It not only works with just the HBCU band while you’re there, but also in life. It works at your job; it works with just how you are as a person.
The whole experience was fun. If I could sum it up into one big word, it would be “life-impacting.”
What was it like when you saw your children in the Marching 100?
Oh, my goodness.
First, it was like, “Let me catch my breath,” because we were at homecoming, and we marched with them. But, then, it was surreal to know they’re getting the same experience, the same Bragg Memorial Stadium and the same FAMU Marching 100 love.
It was a great feeling. It was also great to go back home and rest while they continued for the rest of the season.
How did attending an HBCU and being in The Marching 100 help your professional network?
I’m an educator, so everything we do is built on relationships.
How do you talk to people? How do you come up to people? How do you assert yourself? How are you a leader? I was a leader in the band, and, now, I’m a leader in my field.
My mom used to say, you can go to any school and get an education anywhere, but HBCUs will take care of you. I felt that at FAMU. We have this thing called FAMU-ly, and that’s what it is. The minute you step on campus, you feel it. From financial aid to the cafeteria to the professors, they want to see you win. When you’re in an environment where everybody wants to see you win, you just can’t beat that.
That’s what HBCUs do for us. Not just FAMU, even though I think it’s the best HBCU ever, but Clark Atlanta does that. Morris Brown does that. You still find that at South Carolina State. You’ll see that in a lot of HBCU alumni.
When we all get together, and it’s all HBCUs in the room, it’s a powerful network. You can see how it is taking over the country. Now, we have HBCU love everywhere. We have HBCUs in the people who are getting elected, even our future president.
You see the love coming through, and, hopefully, it’ll take over the whole country, and they’ll feel it.
