By Venecia Easter
When Brielle Crooms was a Tallahassee Community College student, she had to figure out everything on her own. There was no guidance and no mentor to help reach her goals.
Now that she is a member of the Steering Committee of TCC’s Sister to Sister program, she provides students with knowledge she wished she had received when she was in college.
Crooms has positively impacted members of the Sister to Sister program by guiding those students who are in need. She has learned to understand students’ concerns. If she doesn’t have the answer she finds resources and finds ways to maximize the support for these young ladies.
Crooms said finding one’s purpose and passion is a constant process. It is an exercise that has multiple levels, and each level involves growth. The knowledge and skills that each young lady gains should be carried with them wherever they go.
“You should always try to be a better version of yourself each day,” Crooms said. “Yesterday, you shouldn’t be the exact same person. You should have learned something new, taking along something that you can be able to, you know, move forward in your next steps in life.”
TCC’s Sister to Sister program provides resources to help its members flourish, according to the Tallahassee Community College website. The program is a support system to connect young ladies to opportunities for their future.
“The S2S program is designed to increase student success, retention, and completion through mentoring, leadership development, social development, academic support, and career guidance,” according to the TCC website.
Calandra Stringer is the TCC Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost who said Crooms is a persistent woman who never stops until she has an answer. She is good at reading individuals, learning their goals, and finding that advantage to support students.
“One of the things Brielle does well is once she establishes that rapport with the young ladies and students,” Dr. Stringer said. “She’s always trying to find resources to help them.”
TCC student Jayelyn Guy said Crooms taught her to present herself with confidence. It is not always easy, but self confidence is one of life’s strongest weapons. Don’t let others distract you from reaching your goals.
“Work extra hard to prove them wrong. … I would say that’s the biggest lesson that she taught me,” Guy said.
Crooms said she emphasizes the importance of setting a goal and achieving it.
“I do want to see your growth and I tell most young ladies that I’ve had a chance to mentor, ‘I’m going to challenge you,’ ” Crooms said.
Venecia Easter is a second-year Tallahassee Community College student from Tallahassee, Fla. She plans to transfer to Florida A&M University to study Public Relations.
