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Two student writers, Awa Badiane and Isabella Mariani, have joined the Communications staff and will begin writing a series of stories — 2 Minutes With … — to introduce us to the passions and interests of Lawrentians on and off campus. To get it started, we asked Awa to write about Isabella and Isabella to write about Awa.

“I like making connections throughout campus,” says Awa Badiane ’21. “You get to meet a lot of different people.”

It’s true. The sophomore is a familiar face on the �鶹ӰԺ campus. And it didn’t take her long to get involved.

She was elected president of the Black Student Union, or BSU, before she finished her freshman year. The student organization works to promote cultural diversity and unity through education and social activism.

“Black students and other students of color on campus need a space where they can fully be themselves and be around people who can connect with certain aspects of their experience,” she says of the need for BSU to be active and accessible on campus.

Did you know?

Awa, a government major from Harlem, came to �鶹ӰԺ via the Posse Foundation, a scholarship program that looks to identify future leaders among students of diverse backgrounds. High school students who show leadership potential are recruited from 10 participating U.S. cities. �鶹ӰԺ partners with the Posse Foundation.

Awa remains tight with the nine other Posse students from her class.

“Not only do I get to be part of a very large group of leaders nationwide, I get to be part of the larger Posse community on campus,” Awa says. “It’s also nice to be recognized for my leadership skills.”

A passion to connect

She joined BSU early in her freshman year. Then, when it came time to elect a new club president, Awa stepped up and was elected. 

 “I was honestly very surprised because I was only a freshman, but at the same time I was excited because of having the opportunity to implement all the ideas I had,” she says.

Awa proposed the creation of a safe space complete with arts and crafts, a fashion show, a day of service and the first Excellence Ball, which launched during winter term as a lead-in to the annual People of Color Empowerment Week.

“We try to implement the encouragement of diversity in all of our events,” Awa said.

For Awa, BSU is a great avenue to share her ideas and follow her passions. But, like involvement in other campus activities, it’s also a great way to meet people and develop meaningful relationships.

“It’s important that it forces me to get out and talk to people,” Awa says.