JACKSON - A poster on a wall at Tougaloo College bulletin caught the eye of Jasmine Hughes and widened her view.
Her thoughts traveled outward from Mississippi, across the Atlantic Ocean and onward into Africa.
She'll recreate that imaginary voyage in June, but this time it will be real.
Hughes, 19, granddaughter of Ruben and Maxine Hughes of Greenwood, will participate this summer in Operations Crossroads Africa.
The organization has sent young adults on humanitarian missions abroad, mainly to Africa, since it was founded in 1957.
The organization's motto is "Make a difference in others, see the difference in yourself."
But Hughes wants to make connections during her seven-week experience, which will start June 12. She seeks "the cross-cultural experiences of African Americans and Africans" while doing something that will help others.
She expects to hear any day now about her assignment. Hughes wants to go to Kenya. It appeals to her.
Hughes backtracked years to explain why she wants to travel and work in Africa.
She grew up in Greenwood, went to St. Francis of Assisi School and then on to her grandmother's alma mater, Piney Woods School near Jackson.
At Piney Woods she met people from other countries and continents, including Mexico and Africa.
Students at Piney Woods work and study. "My grandmother wanted to expose me to a different environment," Hughes said.
Students live on a farm at Piney Woods. They work 10 hours a week to supplement the cost of tuition.
Graduated fourth in a class 42, with numerous scholarship offers. She spent a year at Kent State University - where she made the dean's list - but found she prefers the South.
At Tougaloo, Hughes is the reigning Miss United Negro College Fund, and she plans to use her experiences this summer as a platform running for Miss Tougaloo, and maybe Miss Mississippi.
But first she has to get to Africa. She hopes her mass communications major with an emphasis on radio will help once she arrives on the continent.
She'll have to apply herself to get to Africa. That means hard work. The trip costs $3,500. On Sundays, she works as a deejay for the Jackson hiphop station, WJML.
Maxine Hughes said, no, she is not worried about her granddaughter "Jasmine is an outstanding student. She is a speaker, and she works with youngsters. She is real good. She has the smarts. …
We are going to support her in any way we can."
