EDITOR’S NOTE: Diary of a Black Girl is a monthly column focusing on the experiences of Black women at the University of Mississippi. In this installment, junior opinion writer Bre’Anna Coleman interviews senior exercise science major Jena Brown.

When I was younger, my family and I moved from the Virgin Islands to the United States. I spent the majority of my younger years homeschooled since my mom wasn’t too fond of public schooling. From my understanding, she believed traditional schools didn’t allow children to be children. She thought it hindered them from being themselves and wanted to give her children an alternative way to learn.

I felt the experience was great, and it was better than what public school could have offered me at that age. I didn’t have to worry and stress over standardized tests. I wasn’t bound by the typical 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. school schedule. Instead, I could work on my own time and my siblings and I were free to do whatever we wanted. If I wanted to go to a farm instead of doing algebra, it was up to me.

I can look back now and say homeschooling made me a well-rounded person. It empowered me to see that I can be more than any teacher could teach me. I can put my hands on whatever I want to and learn from experience. For that, I’m thankful.

Homeschooling does come with some drawbacks, though. One of the downsides was that it was hard finding my people in the homeschool groups. Living in the South, it can be hard to find other Black children who were homeschooled and desired to go to art museums, farms and even community gardens. It’s hard as a kid without peers with similar interests.

As I grew older, I noticed that I was the oldest in the homeschooled group. Everyone I had grown up with had quit homeschooling and began attending more traditional institutions. This inspired my decision to go to high school.

Just like that, I entered a whole new world.

I was this tall kid. I spoke differently and no one really knew me.

At Water Valley High School, there were probably only about 25 people in my graduating class. After graduation, most people didn’t think beyond small jobs in their hometown or enrollment in community college.

I almost felt like I couldn’t dream big. Ultimately, I ended up transferring high schools in pursuit of more rewarding opportunities.

I spent my senior year at Oxford High School. I was there for just one semester before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Even then, I felt the difference between the two institutions. I was encouraged by faculty and peers alike to pursue anything I wanted. My college applications list was expected to be filled with more than just nearby community colleges.

High school also made me aware of religion and how it affected the people around me. Religion can influence people’s entire worldview. I didn’t grow up in a religious household. My mom was raised Christian and my dad was raised Muslim. Both of them had very intense experiences growing up and decided they wanted something different for their children.

I ultimately chose the University of Mississippi, and I can confidently say that it was a good decision for me. I originally desired to go out of state, but due to the pandemic, I decided that paying out-of-state tuition just to sit in on Zoom lectures would defeat the purpose of enrolling in an out-of-state university. Plus, I had already established connections at Ole Miss, and I knew the resources were great.

Still, I struggled to find community when I first entered college. It has been much better lately, though. It was hard at first to find people with shared interests, and the pandemic made everything more challenging.

In the first semester of freshman year, I was mostly home due to COVID-19. My sophomore year, I came back, and joined several student organizations, but by then everyone seemed to have already found their people and cliqued up.

Going from being inside all the time to going outside all the time was an extreme change of pace. Putting myself out there was a huge jump for me, but I eventually found the people for me and adjusted to the new pace of life.

I don’t think people truly realize how impactful COVID-19 was for everyone. Being an introvert, it was very hard to revert back to being around people. But I am glad that I finally found my community within the University of Mississippi.

Bre’Anna Coleman is a junior political science major from Drew, Miss.