On HBCU campuses, there is only one place to go on Hump Day: The Yard. It is a spot where students, organizations, and even faculty gather to celebrate the halfway point to the weekend. Last Wednesday, ESSENCE Girls United and AT&T brought the excitement to Texas Southern University for the inaugural stop of their GU Yard Tour. The Houston heat did not stop TSU students from crowding the steps of the Granville Sawyer Auditorium, ready for a career experience like no other.
The groundbreaking tour offered students a chance to connect with professionals, share career goals, and swap LinkedIn profiles. With TSU student DJ Thundacat setting the vibe and content creator Nique Brown guiding the panel discussions moderated by GU and AT&T, the room was alive with opportunity, optimism, and mentorship.
TSU students were not just in the crowd, they were running the show. From social media takeovers to stage presence, they were at the center of the experience. Erin Slaughter kicked things off alongside Calandrea Carter and Shelby Stewart during the opening panel, Let’s Be Real: How Gen Z Is Redefining Professionalism, moderated by Rhyann Sampson. Speaking as a fellow student, Slaughter shared insights on staying authentic while navigating professional spaces.
“I have learned that if being myself offends someone, I am not in the right room,” Slaughter told GU. She discussed how her tattoos had sometimes caused others to question her professionalism, but her confidence always spoke louder than any doubt. That spirit of affirmation lingered long after the lights dimmed, reshaping how students envisioned their futures.
The moment carried special weight for TSU senior Kalin Pickett, who told GU, “We bring so much creativity, passion, and a strong work ethic, and today’s event was the best display of how we must use them to our advantage.”
The conversation deepened during the AT&T-led panel on AI, where students explored how technology could serve their growth rather than define it. Rather than a distant, abstract discussion, the panel offered practical tools students could apply immediately.
“Coming away from this, I have realized how valuable it is to use AI in parts of your life that need more organization or fuel the motivation to pursue your dreams,” said sophomore Kiara Alford. “We have an incredible tool at our fingertips that, when combined with our organic skills, can elevate the life you know to the life you truly want.”
Beyond the panels and career advice, the GU Yard Tour created something harder to measure: community and affirmation. Students left not only informed but also inspired. TSU student Asia Langley stepped out of the auditorium with a new sense of purpose. As an athletic training major with aspirations in marketing and journalism, seeing her peers interview, film, and create in real time opened a new path. “I have been trying to get into marketing and journalism, so seeing the students walk around interviewing and filming just added to my spark,” she said.
For Jourdan Mathis, the event offered more than inspiration, it provided a roadmap. “This event gave me a clear picture of what a successful career in media looks like and the motivation to keep going,” she said.
The GU Yard Tour’s first stop proved that when culture, community, and opportunity are the pillars, the house stands strong. Gen Z is not waiting to be handed the tools, they are building the foundation themselves, brick by brick, right here on The Yard.