Shatize Pope: Finding My Village at Columbia

In Fall 2020, Shatize Pope (GS ‘23) packed her belongings into a UHaul and moved from South Florida to New York City with her daughter. Though the city was still in lockdown, Shatize did her best to meet new people and chat with her neighbors in Columbia Family Housing even as she adjusted to her classes and living in a new place. Despite these connections, the move and global pandemic created restrictions and divided her attention beyond what she had expected. 

“I was playing a teacher. I was being a mom. I was trying to be entertainment for my daughter, and it was a lot,” Shatize reflected. “That was my first year at the school.”

As New York City and the University began to reopen more fully, Shatize began volunteering at her daughter’s school. This was short-lived, though, as she soon received a rousing pep talk from her daughter. 

“She told me, ‘Mom, I love you, but you need to go out and get yourself some friends of your own age. Because I'm tired of you hanging around me, my friends, the playground.’”

Shatize took the advice to heart and became more deeply involved at Columbia. She became a University Life Ambassador because she was excited to be a part of welcoming other students to Columbia. “Some of my closest and best friends have come from us being Ambassadors together.”

She later joined the University Life Events Council and the School of General Studies Student Council.

She also found deep meaning and a broader support network through her work study position at Community Impact (CI), which drew her in with their adult education programs. “I saw some of the reviews online from adult learners, returning to the classroom to get their G.E.D. or people coming from other countries trying to learn English to better themselves,” Shatize said. “It touched me… I was once in that position trying to go back to school at a later age, with a family, working.”

For Shatize, the service and community built by CI went beyond her work-study position, it became an important piece of her personal life too. Many community members from Morningside Heights, Harlem, and Washington Heights who use CI’s programs have showcased their gratitude and support for Shatize by sharing words of encouragement and handmade gifts, like scarves, blankets and hats. “Working at Community Impact has been some of the best times of my life,” Shatize said.

Her favorite memory was bringing her daughter to the Morningside campus after it had reopened to the public. Shatize recalled her daughter saying, “Mommy, I am so proud of you for going back to school and not giving up.”

Shatize was astounded by the flexibility offered to her by her job and professors alike when she asked for help. She encourages all students to do the same. “Never be afraid to ask for help. I definitely had to learn that because I am someone who feels as though I have to do everything on my own,” she said.

Shatize learned to find empowerment and strength in being a single parent at Columbia, something she wants those in similar positions to embrace as well. “Don't be embarrassed. I, for a long time, was embarrassed about being a single parent until I realized that is actually my superpower. Being a single parent I'm a lot more determined.” 

“A lot of parents feel guilty doing stuff for themselves because they have kids. As long as your child has what they need, is okay, is safe, there's nothing wrong with you taking a mental health day… I love to go sit by the water with a cup of coffee and just watch.”

As she prepares to graduate Shatize realized that there was a long list of Columbia faculty, staff, and students who supported her:

• Members of the University Life Student Life team: Stephanie Busch, Gaby Dominguez, and Eunisha Tucker
• Professors Christia Mercer and Christian De Vos 
• Staff at Community Impact: Sandy Helling and Olger Twyner
• And friends in the the school of General Studies and Teachers College: Fatima Rony, Gabby Lamanno, Catriona Lamerique

“You know, that saying ‘it takes a village’? I've definitely found my village here at Columbia,” she said. “And I'm hopeful that later in life I’ll be able to be a part of someone else's village to help them through, especially parents that come to Columbia.”

After graduating, Shatize plans to work in New York City and someday continue her education in law school. Leveraging her academic background in human rights, her ultimate goal is to become an advocate for women and children. “I would love to do international law and develop just laws that protect women and children from harm,” she said. 

Post-graduation, you might also find Shatize visiting her favorite place on earth back in Florida: Disneyworld.

Shatize Pope is studying human rights at the School of General Studies. She works as Community Outreach Coordinator at Community Impact, and is a University Life Ambassador and a member of the University Life Events Council.