Ithiopia LemonsImagine yourself as a young freshman woman coming to N.C. Central University.
You are on your own for the first time in your life. You have no idea on how you will succeed in college.
You wonder to yourself if there is a support system — some kind of program — that you can turn to, one that will help you stay focused and grounded in your schoolwork.
As it turns out NCCU’s Lady Eagle Development, a program in the Women’s Center, is a mentoring program designed to meet your needs. LED’s goal is to provide a safe haven for all undergraduate women.
According to business administration junior Alliyah Sanders her membership in LED has helped her grow as a person and stay on track for graduation.
Sanders said she was impressed with the organization when she first heard a presentation by them at 10:40 break.
“LED helps you be more balanced and levelheaded,” Sanders said, adding that LED has made her more responsible and able to keep her social life in balance.
Biology sophomore Jasmine Perry joined Led in her freshman year and praises LED as “a group of women who are empowering, strong, networking, and prominent.”
LED was established in fall 2012 by Miss NCCU 2012-2013 Harmony Cross to foster sisterly and supportive relationships by emphasizing undergraduate women’s nobility and royalty.
The key to LED’s success is to empower women by matching mentees and mentors through common interests, courses of study, and areas of expertise.
Members are mentees during their freshman and sophomore years and become mentors during their junior and senior years.
According to LED president Teondra Goode the program is the only female mentoring program on campus that helps bring its members together and makes everyone feel equal.
In addition to focus on mentor-mentee relationships , LED does community service, partners with other organizations, sponsors professional development programs, and resume building sessions.
“To be a part of LED you have to show that you’re willing to learn from someone else,” said Goode, a recreation administration senior.
According to Goode, LED members have to keep an open mind and be willing to able to share their experiences with each other people.
“The vision of our members has made L.E.D a success on campus,” Goode said. “We look at the bigger picture, we are dedicated to the organization and have a positive impact on a lot of students.”
