I am Destiny Robinson—a first-generation college student and independent leader at UNO. I am also a senior sociology major at The University of New Orleans. My journey to UNO during the Spring 2025 semester was not just a transfer; it was a divine transition into the next chapter of a leadership legacy God began in me back in 2017. For the past 8 years, God blessed me with an 8-year leadership legacy from 2017 to present, in which I have served, inspired, and uplifted others—not for recognition, but because I was called to do so. At UNO, that calling deepened. I’ve been able to grow as a leader through the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, through Privateer Passage, and through my continued membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. 

UNO History

 

The University of New Orleans was established in 1956 as Louisiana State University in New Orleans (LSUNO) by the Louisiana Legislature to provide public higher education for the city’s families. When it opened its doors in September 1958 to around 1,200 students, it became the first fully racially integrated public university in the South—a bold and historic step forward. Led by Homer L. Hitt, the university’s founder and first chancellor, and supported by visionary faculty, staff, and administrators, UNO stood as a symbol of progress and access in a time of segregation. That founding legacy continues to inspire students like me—first-generation leaders who carry the hopes of our ancestors, the prayers of our families, and the responsibility to lead with purpose, integrity, and truth.

 

                                                               

I transferred to UNO during the Spring 2025 semester. For the past 8 years—since 2017—God has led me on a leadership journey that has shaped my identity and calling. From high school to Xavier University of Louisiana, and now at UNO, I’ve remained faithful to the path He placed before me: to serve with purpose, lead with humility, and uplift others with truth and love. My arrival at UNO was more than academic—it was spiritual. It was another step in the leadership legacy God blessed me to carry.

 

The UNO’s Office of Student Involvement and Leadership created space for that legacy to grow. Through Privateer Passage, I completed several leadership development badges, including Navigator: Accurate Self-Knowledge, Global Citizenship, Mental Health and Wellness, and Conscientious Decision-Making, Crew: Accurate Self-Knowledge and Mental Health and Wellness and Launchpad Leader. These experiences reminded me that God equips those He calls. In April 2025, I was nominated for the Silent Student Inspiration Award and honored at the 41st Annual Student Leadership Recognition Ceremony. That moment wasn’t about recognition—it was about confirmation. It confirmed what God had already spoken to me: that every step of obedience, every “yes” to Him, was preparing me to lead with grace and boldness.

 

During that same semester, Ellipsis, UNO’s literary journal, accepted two of my poems: “Honoring Our Ancestors” and “Why Does Our Beauty Matter?”. These works reflect the strength, identity, and cultural pride of Black people. Through poetry, I continue using my voice to glorify God, honor my roots within leadership and inspiring the youths and speak truth to power.

 

Why Does Our Beauty Matter

 

Beauty is more than skin deep

It is the light that shines from within

The kindness that radiates from your heart

The wisdom that guides your actions

The joy that fills your soul

 

Beauty is not a competition

It is not something to be judged or compared

It is a gift that we all possess

A reflection of our uniqueness and diversity

A celebration of our humanity

 

Beauty is not a fleeting thing

It does not fade with age or time

It is a quality that grows and evolves

A manifestation of our inner strength and grace

A legacy that we leave behind

 

Beauty is not just what we see with our eyes

It's also what we feel with our hearts

But we often judge by the surface

And miss the essence that lies within

 

Beauty is not just what we hear with our ears

It's also what we speak with our words

But we often use them to hurt or lie

And miss the power that they hold

 

Beauty is not just what we touch with our hands

It's also what we create with our minds

But we often waste our talents or gifts

And miss the potential that we have



Honoring Our Ancestors


Our ancestors are the roots of our tree

The source of our strength, our identity

They endured the hardships, the trials, the pain

They sacrificed, they fought, they gained

 

They left us a legacy of wisdom and grace

Of culture, of faith, of values, of place

They taught us to honor, to respect, to love

To cherish, to serve, to rise above

 

We are the branches of our tree

The carriers of our history

We have the duty, the privilege, the role

To preserve, to share, to enrich, to uphold

 

We live our legacy by following their example

By being brave, by being kind, by being humble

By standing up for what is right

We live our legacy by passing it on

 

We honor our ancestors who came before us 

They gave us life, wisdom, and courage

We remember their stories, struggles, and joys

They are a part of us, and we are a part of them 

 

We honor our ancestors who watch over us 

They guide, protect us, and inspire us

We seek their blessings, advice, and love

They are with us, and we are with them

 

I also continued my membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society (O∆K), a lifetime honor that began at Xavier in 2024 and now continues at UNO. In Spring 2025, I completed 25 leadership courses through the Charlie Life and Leadership Academy, earning 28 badges in areas like Values-Based Leadership, Legacy, Vision, Cultivating Trust, and Resilience. O∆K was founded in 1914 and now has over 287 active chapters and more than 350,000 lifetime members. Its mission—to honor and connect collaborative and inclusive leaders—perfectly reflects the leadership journey God called me to walk. For me, leadership is sacred. It is more than influence—it’s obedience to divine purpose. Most UNO students, like me, are the first in their families to attend college. We carry not only books but prayers. We walk these campuses with the hope of our ancestors and the courage of our faith. Our leadership is not just for us—it’s for the future.


As UNO students, we are destined to be bold leaders and powerful examples for the generations coming after us. My 8-year leadership legacy—from 2017 to the present—is not about recognition, but about revelation. It is the result of staying obedient to God’s calling and trusting His plan, even when the path wasn’t easy. Leadership—especially within Christ—requires patience, humility, obedience, and a heart surrendered to His will. True leadership is about putting God first, honoring the foundation, and serving with purpose. Just as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—a preacher, prophet, and civil rights activist—followed divine purpose over public opinion, I have learned to follow God’s voice above the noise of the world. His legacy still roars despite the wickedness we face—and now, I carry that roar forward through faith, service, and truth. To all future Privateers and young leaders be bold, be discerning, and let God lead you. He’ll bless you beyond measure—and do the impossible through you for generations to come.