Every year, students from around the world undergo the strenuous process of applying to colleges. They may choose to study near home or travel outside their country, chose a public or private college, or a four-year or two-year college. There are so many options to choose from and I chose to attend Howard University, a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) located in Washington D.C. It was a rather uncommon choice of college for me seeing that my family is from the Caribbean and we never considered the prospect of an HBCU. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. During my tenure so far at my HBCU, I did encounter a few unexpected aspects of HBCU life. So to all prospective students, current students, and alum of an HBCU, here are a few things that I didn't know even existed until I attended my HBCU.

1. That it exists! In fact, there are about 100 of them in 19 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S Virgin Islands.

Coming from a Caribbean household, the only schools that my parents talked about was the University of the West Indies or Ivy Leagues. Even though I did spend some time in the New York City Public School system, the words CUNY and SUNY were the main schools I was informed about. I found out about Howard University through a friend and it wasn't until I got to campus I realized that it was a Historically Black College. And soon enough I began to understand the importance and necessity of such institutions.

2. The "Turn Up" culture

If you are a commoner to World Star Hip Hop, you have probably seen a few videos of the greatest swag surf ever from an HBCU. The Turn Up Culture is so real at an HBCU. Everyone majors in dance and turn up here. I mean you would turn up here too if all your life you were an oppressed minority who finally entered a judgment free zone and your only form of repression is homework. So to my fellow HBCU brothers and sisters, remain lit. At the end of the day, our graduates are thriving.

3. Black Greeks

This is verbatim how I heard about Black Greek Letter Organization.

Student: “Does anyone know about the Divine 9?”

Me: "Oh this is a religious school."

Like I said, I grew up in a Caribbean household, so Black American culture is literally foreign to me. It was here on campus that I was informed about the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc. (the Divine Nine) and, later on, I found out that there are also Asian-American, Christian, Jewish, Latino, Muslim and other forms of Greeks.

4. A college can't have the Divine Nine without having the occasional step show and stroll off. My mind was so blown when I realized that stepping was a real thing and not just a concept from Stomp The Yard.

5. So many discussions about black people!

If you got to an HBCU, you will be consumed in discussions regarding black people and their role in society.

No matter the class, professors always provide students with the opportunity to examine blacks and their relations with the specific topic. Whether you are in a physics class discussing quantum mechanics and the amount of Blacks that graduate with a Ph.D. in Physics every year, or you are in a Communications class where you are discussing today's press and comparing it to the peak of the Black press during the Civil Rights Movement.

6. Ignorance and Enlightenment

Huge shocker! Students in colleges around the world aren’t perfect and we don't know everything. I know I came to college with my own predisposed thoughts and stigma. I also faced these same things by classmates who were a bit more verbal with their thoughts. Like the ones who constantly told me: "You speak English so well even though you're from Jamaica." Over time, through these same panel discussions and class assignments, the quiet students begin to speak up and the loquacious students begin to listen. That's because HBCUs create a safe zone for students to freely speak no matter how unintelligent their ideas may be. This safe zone eventually helps us to understand one another and get rid of the ignorance so that we may reach a level of enlightenment.

7. The gradual glow up of my entire class.

Let's be real. A lot of us came in freshman year and our fashion was a bit rough around the edges. Sophomore and junior year is our transitioning period for the glow up and senior year we have our look down pack. I credit this gradual glow up to the never ending events that require students to be presentable and to the student hairstylists, makeup artists and barbers that live in every dorm.

8. Homecoming

This is the time of year when the glow up is put to the test, bank accounts are depleted, and the turn up is at its peak. Homecoming allows proud alumni to return and celebrate their days at Howard and for students to enjoy the festivities related to Homecoming. There are step shows, stroll offs, concerts, and no homecoming is complete without the football game and more importantly the..

9.Majorettes and drum majors

These performers are the highlight of the Homecoming football game. After hours of practicing to perfectly execute their sound, formation and moves, the bands usually grace us with a phenomenal show during half time. Majorettes, in form fitting outfits, will dance as the band plays music that can range from Biggie to Future.

10. Hip hop and rap music:

As we all know, hip hop and rap music are huge parts of black culture, so I should have expected to hear this kind of music occasionally. I was not anticipating that I would hear it every day, everywhere, five times a day. From my dorm room to my classes, to the cafeteria, someone is always playing some rap music. The students who come into college not knowing much about these genres will soon enough catch themselves singing "Don't save her, she don't wanna be saved" down the hallways or find themselves engulfed and enjoying the new turn up culture.

11. Cultural shock

It's an unfortunate and unintentional side effect of being in an environment with another dominant culture. The music, the social life, hot topics were all new and overwhelming to me and a lot of other students. Even students that lived in America all their lives can feel some form of culture shock during their time at an HBCU. Over time, I got used to the culture and found people from my own culture through organizations like the Caribbean Students' Association. Culture shock is only a lasting impression if one doesn't branch out. I soon found the diversity on my campus and have befriended people from Australia, Brazil, the Caribbean, East Asia, the Middle East and West Africa.

12. The strict rules

No matter where you come from, one thing everyone at an HBCU can agree on and bond over is that the HBCUs have extremely strict rules. The most common of them all usually relate to required classes and visitation policies.

13. Community service and activism:

There is always an opportunity to take part in a community service project and activism at an HBCU. Black people have always been the leaders in society for movements against social injustices and HBCUs continue on this tradition today.

14. Pride in your school

After being at an HBCU, experiencing the glow up, the community service, the partying, and the plethora of knowledge, I didn't expect to take such pride in an institution, and fellow institutions of its kind. If anyone challenges the relevance of my HBCU I will always be there to defend the place that has helped me become the person I am today.

15. You're not alone in this pride either

I do not stand alone with this uncontrollable pride for HBCU. Students and alum everywhere share in the pride that extends beyond campus and goes into a work field where there will be more HBCU alum waiting for my arrival to assist me in the working world. Some call it networking, I call it my family.