What God has for you will always be for you.
There aren’t enough words to describe my time as a participant in the Rhoden Fellowship over the last year. As I write this with teary eyes, I’m filled with so much gratitude for what has helped shape me into the journalist I am today.
The first time I heard about the Rhoden Fellowship was during my senior year of high school. I was on my second visit at North Carolina A&T State University, taking a closer look at Crosby Hall, home of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, where I would spend my college experience cultivating my craft and expanding my passion. The department chair, Gail Wiggins, informed me of a yearlong fellowship with Andscape that several A&T students had been selected for during their time on campus. As soon as I got home, I looked up all of the students who had been Rhoden Fellows, looking to follow in their Aggie footsteps.
Zayda Lewis
In August 2021, I enrolled at A&T and embarked on a journey of what would become the best four years of my life. Through determination, perseverance and most importantly, God’s plan, I’ve been able to grow and learn so much about myself.
I spent my first two years as an undergraduate figuring out what kind of journalist I wanted to be and what a journalist looked like as I was now carrying the legacy of what it meant to be a “Crosby Kid.” I joined the A&T Register, the school’s newspaper, hoping that with a foundational writing background I would strengthen my skills, enjoy the art of storytelling and apply for various opportunities. I became a section editor during my sophomore and junior years and wrote stories about on-campus organizations, on-campus events, including pageants and the Chancellor’s Speaker Series, and local Greensboro, North Carolina businesses.
Zayda Lewis
This was my passion, and with every story I wrote I felt more empowered to tell other inspiring stories.
For me, faith has always been the bigger story of my life. I was raised in the church but didn’t realize the impact of that until I got to college. At the start of each year, I do a 21- to 30-day fast, and I ask God to have his way in my life and prepare me for the rest of the year. It wasn’t luck that got me this far, but God. I prayed for this moment to be able to write thought-provoking stories and keep my fire for storytelling. One thing about life is it can feel overwhelming and frustrating when you see people around you obtaining opportunities. But you learn to be patient and wait on God for your turn.
This experience has been perfect timing because it’s God’s timing. Last summer, my Rhoden Fellows class became the first to be based at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Over the last year, I’ve also appeared on First Take during the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention and provided coverage of the Aggie-Eagle Classic rivalry and the Celebration Bowl, experiences that have been integral in making me a better journalist.
God has been intentional with every person and opportunity I’ve encountered along the way during this internship.
Being the servant leader that I am, I was juggling what felt like a lot, including being president of the NCAT Section of the National Council of Negro Women, working as editor-in-chief for the A&T Register, and holding a part-time job with McClatchy Media Company that involved providing social content for the Charlotte Observer. But God gave me strength and confidence. He gave me the best family and friend group, which motivated and kept me determined in my endeavors.
Throughout my time at A&T, I have found myself. I made the most beautiful memories that I am more than thankful for. And “Thee Six,” as the 2025 Class of Rhoden Fellows dubbed itself, will always hold a special place in my heart because God intentionally placed them in my life, giving me five sisters in sports.
God always keeps his promise. God’s plan has always been better than my own.