From Chicago To Morehouse With A Gap Year Plan

A deposit deadline gets missed, plans fall apart, and the “perfect” timeline disappears. That moment could have ended Nasir Mohammed’s Morehouse dream, but it becomes the start of something better: a gap year built on accountability, discipline, and a clear decision to keep moving when the finish line shifts.We talk with Nasir, a Chicago-area student heading to Morehouse College, about why choosing an HBCU matters to him as a young Black person looking for connection, culture, and an education that tells the truth about Black history. He shares what it’s like navigating the college search largely on your own, why Morehouse felt like love at first sight, and how his nontraditional school experience shaped his mindset around empowerment and purpose.Nasir also reads his scholarship essay and breaks down the lesson behind it: setbacks can be preparation if you take responsibility and stay intentional. He explains how he used the delay to apply for scholarships, deepen community service, join leadership programs, and even train as a walk-on baseball athlete. We also get practical about college readiness, networking, and why alumni connections can make a new city and a new campus feel possible from day one.If you believe in HBCU scholarships, college access, and Black student success, this story will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone college-bound, and leave a review so more people find these scholars and support their journeys.Send us Fan MailSupport the show