Fall is here! For some, it means the end of vacation season. Summer is officially over and the weather will be shifting to a cold front. For us still in the HBCU bubble, we notice it’s the end of September. We start talking to our fellow alums about another sacred holiday that we anticipate annually: homecoming season.

If you graduated as a Bison, Bulldog, Eagle, Pirate etc., it’s an exciting season. We’re all booking our next flights, trains and car trips to meet with our friends and take the weekend off. Students are looking forward to seeing their friends who have graduated, and cannot wait to catch up with them after seeing them on social media for months at a time while wondering, “How am I topping last year’s look?”

Most of us are eager to see the lineup of who’s heading the different festivities on and off campus, as well. For Howard Alums, we’re wondering who’s going to bring us that Drake 2012 pandemonium feel to YardFest, a major homecoming event where all students, alumni and locals of Howard retreat each year. We then prepare for the game the next day, praying that our team will give us a win. But regardless of the outcome, we’ll turn up at the tailgate.

Not only are we excited to get together and party, but we’re also taking time to reflect on life, history and culture. The week is full of panels, workshops and vendors, all of which help show us how to be a better us for the present and future.

Yes, we’re breaking our necks every October for our homecoming events. It’s a chance to celebrate the school, ourselves and honor those who paved the way for us.

Chad Clarke is a 2018 Howard University Alumnus from Columbia, Maryland. He's currently a Masters Candidate for Full Sail University.

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Writing since September 2018 · 1 story contributed