Catching Up With Akeyia Nichols!
Forman Scholar Akeyia Nichols graduated from Swarthmore College in May 2025 with degrees in Black studies and educational studies. Akeyia plans to prepare for her teacher certification program this summer and begin her career in education shortly after, while pursuing her master’s degree in education. We recently caught up with Akeyia to learn more about her college experience and her plans for the future.
How did you get involved during your time at Swarthmore College?
I was very involved during my time at Swarthmore. I played on the women’s rugby team for two years and served as the team’s Vice President. I joined several affinity groups, including Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA), the Swarthmore African-American Student Society (SASS), and Black Women and Gender Inclusion (AJA). I served on the executive boards of both SASS and SOCA, while also interning with them. I also held multiple jobs, including working as an Equipment Room Manager, eventually becoming the Men’s Lacrosse Team Manager, and as a Library Assistant. In my senior year, I became the Library Coordinator for the Black Cultural Center. In addition, I served as a Campus Resident Assistant for two years, completed summer research on Black women in higher education, worked as a Student Academic Mentor (SAM), and facilitated an after-school program called Barrio-Ed in South Philadelphia.
How did the Forman Acton Foundation support you throughout your college journey?
The Foundation offered me ongoing mentorship and essential guidance in managing my finances throughout college. Their financial support allowed me to take advantage of key opportunities that would have otherwise been inaccessible. They also helped me stay connected with friends from high school, which became a vital source of comfort and encouragement as I navigated new challenges and experiences. I’m incredibly grateful for the role they played in shaping both my college journey and my confidence in the future.
What’s something you know now that you wish you knew during your first semester?
Culture shock is real. I wish I had known that college isn’t always like what you see in movies or TV shows. It can feel a little disorienting or even disappointing at first if your expectations are shaped by that idealized version. However, it becomes meaningful as you create your own path and define success on your own terms. The greatest lesson I learned is that money isn’t everything. It’s important, but it doesn’t define your success or happiness. Learning to value integrity and purpose over a paycheck was a game-changer for me.
How do you plan on applying the lessons you’ve learned from college to the betterment of your community?
As someone who studied both educational studies and Black studies, I plan to directly apply what I’ve learned by becoming a teacher in Philadelphia, focusing on inner-city and low-income communities. I want to foster a classroom environment that models the values I’ve studied and helps empower the next generation through education, showing them that their voices matter and that their futures are full of possibilities.
Why are organizations such as the Forman Acton Foundation so important?
Programs like the Forman Acton Foundation are crucial for students like me. They recognize high-achieving students and provide the financial assistance and mentorship needed to pursue opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. Being a Forman Scholar means being part of a community that genuinely believes in your potential and invests in your future. It’s a support system that extends beyond academics. It’s about personal growth, connection and empowerment. I hope to stay involved by mentoring future Scholars and giving back however I can, just as others have done for me.