Students hold balloons with envelopes listing their personal goals attached for the Black Women of Western “Let it ‘Goal’” balloon release event on South Lawn on Tuesday, Sept. 17. (Photo by Kaitlyn Webb)

270 Chronicles: Black Women of Western “Let it Goal” event motivates students

The 270 Chronicles tells stories within Bowling Green’s 270 area code, 270 words at a time. Inspired by IndyStar’s 317 Project, the 270 Chronicles features niche events, organizations and people that make up our local community.

Students gathered in Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Sept. 17, to share their goals at the “Let it ‘Goal’” event hosted by Black Women of Western, a student-run empowerment organization on the Hill. Participants wrote their goals on paper, placed them in envelopes and attached them to balloons they then released.

Freshman biology major Nyra Bard writes her personal and academic goals for the fall semester. She then attached the goals to a balloon for the Black Women of Western “Let it Goal” balloon release on South Lawn on Tuesday, Sept. 17. “I feel like this is important because black women need a special place to have a community and to feel safe around other people of color,” Bard said. “My goals are to have a minimum 3.2 GPA, to make good choices, to communicate with people that I don’t know, have better study habits, and ask professors questions when I need help.” (Photo by Kaitlyn Webb)

Junior Kennedy Williams from Louisville serves as the president of BWOW and elaborated on the event’s goal.

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“We are here to release our goals into the atmosphere– things that we want to achieve throughout the semester, either personally or academically,” Williams said. 

Participants shared what they were striving towards: goals ranged from “chase the bag” to “make the dean’s list”. Through the process, the ladies were able to bond with their peers.  

The event occurred one week before 5-week check-ins, which Williams said can be a stressful time for students.

“We get a lot of freshmen, some people are taking their first tests and quizzes,” Williams said. “We need to develop a plan to better ourselves, like changing our study habits.” 

Black Women of Western President Kennedy Williams hands out balloons to fellow members for the “Let it ‘Goal” balloon release event on South Lawn on Tuesday, Sept. 17. (Photo by Kaitlyn Webb)

An article published by The Eagle explains that the adjustment to college as a freshman can be difficult. Organizations like BWOW can promote one-on-one mentorship to help address the gap. 

“I definitely can relate to just being anxious and overwhelmed and your anxiety can go up with trying to do your best,” Williams said. “So I think de-stressing events is important to just take your mind away from the consistency of everything else going on in your life.”


Williams urges readers to prioritize their mental health and follow the BWOW Instagram account to keep up with future events.