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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hampton U chapter.

Dear Diary,

Today was the absolute worst! I joined a Girl Scout troop and there were no other girls who looked like me! It felt so awkward and out of place I thought I was gonna die! All of the other girls don’t understand where I’m coming from and they ask me why I don’t straighten my hair more often. What should I do? Maybe it would be better if I just blend in and stay silent. -Camille B.

 

Dear Diary,

The first day of school was strange. Of course, I was the only black girl in my class. I think I’m the only black girl in my high school! I guess I should just be friendly and hope that everyone likes me. But I think I saw a biracial girl today. Maybe she’ll be my friend? -Camille B. 

 

These were the types of thoughts I had as a token black girl. For the majority of my life, I was the only black girl in various places and it was interesting to say the least. I sometimes wondered why I felt isolated. It wasn’t until high school that I realized I felt alone because of the color of my skin. 

 

One day in my high school cafeteria, a student made an odd remark. We were required to come to school on MLK Day and he was surprised that I came to school. The biracial girl who I thought would be my friend, ended up becoming someone who did not like me whatsoever. That’s when I realized that I had to stop blending in, stand up for myself and be who I was made to be: a strong, confident black woman. 

 

I wish I could talk to my younger self. Tell her that she is enough and no one can tell her otherwise. Being black is a privilege and as black women, we should lift each other up and not tear each other down. 

 

Dear Diary,

I can’t believe I am a sophomore at the illustrious Hampton University! There are so many people who look like me! This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. Look out world, Camille Birdsong is here whether you like it or not! -Camille B.

 

Camille Birdsong is a Her Campus National Writer for the Style section. She writes weekly articles about all things fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and decor. Beyond Her Campus, Camille works as an Associate Producer for CNN Max. She previously worked at NBC News, where she produced heartwarming stories for the TODAY Show audience and viewers nationwide. Camille graduated in 2022 with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Leadership Studies at Hampton University. She was the Director and Line Producer of her university’s newscast and has interned at NBC Nightly News, the TODAY Show and the Weekend TODAY Show. Camille is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and is passionate about sharing community-driven stories. In her downtime, she loves creating content, visiting new cafes, and obsessing over reality dating shows.
Tiana Ruffin

Hampton U '21

I have the privilege to serve as Campus Correspondent for the Her Campus Hampton U Chapter a second year! I am a graduating Senior, Strategic Communications major, Marketing minor currently studying at the illustrious Hampton University. I am from Richmond, VA (shoutout to the 804!). In addition to classes, I run my own creative agency, Tiana Nichelle Marketing where I specialize in social media management, content creation, public relations, and branding. My love for the PR and Communications industry is the reason my ultimate goal is to become a celebrity publicist in the upcoming years! Her Campus Hampton U is an organization that is near and dear to me and I am so happy to be a leader of this ELITE chapter!