Malik Hines is a second-year adviser serving with the N.C. State College Advising Corps at South Granville High School in Granville County Public Schools.

By Malik Hines
College Advising Corps

CREEDMOOR –There are several reasons why I decided to join College Advising Corps, but I truly believe they all stem from the obligation I feel to help others, as well as my love of the diversity that is present in the world. Working with the students is truly fulfilling as you watch them develop plans for their futures. Truthfully, I have grown alongside the students while I tackled life as a recent college graduate. 

Since I have joined the Corps, I have been able to feel like I am making a difference in the life of someone else. Watching students’ progression from tears of frustration and overwhelmed feelings to college acceptance letters and knowing that I was vital in that was enough to make me shed a few tears myself in some cases—only they were tears of happiness. Of course, the tough days happen as well, and that is when I truly feel blessed to be surrounded by colleagues who also feel duty to propel our students further and higher. Collaborating with the students, school staff, College Advising Corps partners, and, in particular, other advisers makes this job both possible and enjoyable. That is why I was very excited when I heard about the first ever Assemble NC, a professional learning conference bringing together advisers from all of the programs in North Carolina. While I absolutely love my NC State WolfCAC team, I looked forward to connecting with advisers from other programs!

From chatting it up with some Davidson advisers about building a college-going culture to trying to top the energy that the UNC Chapel Hill program brings to any space, Assemble NC perfectly combined our learning goals with a familial space that fostered that learning. I had the opportunity to facilitate a session with Bekah Garner, a coach with the NC Community Colleges Career Coach Program, about serving rural students. I also attended the reception for various stakeholders and College Advising Corps staff at which I and other advisers had the chance to advocate for College Advising Corps and what we do. I was nervous, to say the least, but I left feeling more confident explaining to people why college access and postsecondary advising is so important. Shaking hands with some of the movers and shakers in the field was good practice for my career goals as I intend to study the law to engage in policymaking. Some of the stakeholders were even calling me “Governor Hines,” which was very funny to me.  But, I guess you never know what the future might hold!