Respect for all, cooperation, self awareness, and self control are positive personal characteristics that are developed in people who are raised in and exposed to positive environments where positive reinforcement and healthy communication prevail. Conversely, aggression, defiance, and withdrawal often stem from environments that are stressful, unsupportive and toxic. Last summer, through the New York City Summer Youth Program, I had an opportunity to work in a local daycare center. I am only 17 years old, so my only prior experience working with children (outside of school and peer mentoring) was my extensive experience babysitting my younger sister and cousins. At first, everyone was kind and greeted me warmly, but I quickly noticed some behaviors that were jarring. I have an autistic cousin so I am very aware of the classic characteristics of children on the spectrum, so when I was assigned to the two with special needs with very limited adult supervision I knew there was cause for concern. I noticed that many of the workers would yell a lot at the special needs students out of frustration which I know hurts them even if they can't verbalize it. Instead of reprimanding them for “bad behavior”, I implemented proactive strategies for promoting positive behavior and managing challenging behaviors effectively. For example, my little cousin who is autistic gets very upset whenever she can't find a puzzle piece or if someone moves or touches her iPad. My aunt and mother explained that people with autism like order, routines and structures, so my cousin gets upset with subtle changes. Using the knowledge I obtained about the autism spectrum, I made it my personal goal to understand what the children needed and learn whatever I could do to make the special needs children feel more comfortable and included in their classroom. I deliberately encouraged peer interactions, friendship building, and opportunities for collaboration with their classmates. Each day, I would secure their developmental toys and favorite games to ensure they had the items they needed and reduce the temper tantrums. With the progressive growth and understanding of the children’s needs and how they learn best, I helped to implement empathetic behaviors within the classroom. As I learned, I also shared our routines and effective strategies with the teachers and other workers. The workers did not use my strategies very often, but whenever I saw a situation escalating, I would intervene and try to deescalate the situation to prevent it from getting bigger. By the end of the summer, both children had less emotional outbursts and grew closer to me, and unlike the teachers, I would occasionally receive a smile or get a “high five” after they did something that made them proud. Although I am young, leading with empathy and being an upstander has helped me to make a difference in the lives of these children and also show others through my actions that all children need to be loved and can learn, even those with special needs. Empathy is a powerful force for building bridges and fostering unity in a diverse world. Through empathic leadership, we can build meaningful relationships, work together to resolve conflicts, and do our part as a global citizen to create a more inclusive society.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.

Everytime I hear this question, it's hard to think of another answer other than my mother who is the true definition of resilience. As a single mother, she gracefully balances being a school leader, a mother of two children, a doctoral student and a local community leader. Her selfless leadership has been demonstrated through her actions and her impact on the lives of everyone who has had the benefit of being in her care. I remember my 4th birthday celebration very well. I remember the homemade white cake with pretty pastel-colored sprinkles. I remember helping my mom bake the cake the night before and topping it the following Easter Sunday morning with the gummy candies my grandfather gifted me. After church, I strategically placed the candy in a pattern between each of the 4 candles around the bundt cake. We sang and ate cake using Dora the Explorer table setting, and then my sister and I spent the remainder of the day playing in my favorite park late into the evening. Although the facts are the same, my mother’s version of the story is different. She only had five dollars and went two dollars over budget to buy cake mix, sprinkles and a table setting from the local dollar store with my favorite cartoon character. I didn't know it then, but as I got older, I learned that my recently divorced mother was struggling to make ends meet while doing everything in her power to raise my sister and in a healthy environment. Although she made it look easy, basic needs such as paying for childcare, food and gas to travel to work kept her awake at night. Being a first hand witness of my mothers’ ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and maintain a positive outlook has been a source of inspiration and strength for me. My mothers resilience has instilled in me the belief that with perseverance and hard work, I can overcome any obstacle and achieve my aspirations. Throughout the years, my mother has taught me to keep my head up and persevere through any setbacks that life may throw my way. Seeing my mothers determination, positivity, and grace in the face of hardship continues to motivate me to overcome obstacles, pursue my goals, and strive for success. College is a time of growth and exploration, but it's also a time of challenges and hiccups. Looking past rigorous coursework and distractions, I will continue to make due with what I have. As I navigate the journey towards my aspiration, I carry with me the trait of resilience learned from my mother, knowing that with perseverance, anything is possible.

Everytime I hear this question, it's hard to think of another answer other than my mother who is the true definition of resilience. As a single mother, she gracefully balances being a school leader, a mother of two children, a doctoral student and a local community leader. Her selfless leadership has been demonstrated through her actions and her impact on the lives of everyone who has had the benefit of being in her care. I remember my 4th birthday celebration very well. I remember the homemade white cake with pretty pastel-colored sprinkles. I remember helping my mom bake the cake the night before and topping it the following Easter Sunday morning with the gummy candies my grandfather gifted me. After church, I strategically placed the candy in a pattern between each of the 4 candles around the bundt cake. We sang and ate cake using Dora the Explorer table setting, and then my sister and I spent the remainder of the day playing in my favorite park late into the evening. Although the facts are the same, my mother’s version of the story is different. She only had five dollars and went two dollars over budget to buy cake mix, sprinkles and a table setting from the local dollar store with my favorite cartoon character. I didn't know it then, but as I got older, I learned that my recently divorced mother was struggling to make ends meet while doing everything in her power to raise my sister and in a healthy environment. Although she made it look easy, basic needs such as paying for childcare, food and gas to travel to work kept her awake at night. Being a first hand witness of my mothers’ ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and maintain a positive outlook has been a source of inspiration and strength for me. My mothers resilience has instilled in me the belief that with perseverance and hard work, I can overcome any obstacle and achieve my aspirations. Throughout the years, my mother has taught me to keep my head up and persevere through any setbacks that life may throw my way. Seeing my mothers determination, positivity, and grace in the face of hardship continues to motivate me to overcome obstacles, pursue my goals, and strive for success. College is a time of growth and exploration, but it's also a time of challenges and hiccups. Looking past rigorous coursework and distractions, I will continue to make due with what I have. As I navigate the journey towards my aspiration, I carry with me the trait of resilience learned from my mother, knowing that with perseverance, anything is possible.

Everytime I hear this question, it's hard to think of another answer other than my mother who is the true definition of resilience. As a single mother, she gracefully balances being a school leader, a mother of two children, a doctoral student and a local community leader. Her selfless leadership has been demonstrated through her actions and her impact on the lives of everyone who has had the benefit of being in her care. I remember my 4th birthday celebration very well. I remember the homemade white cake with pretty pastel-colored sprinkles. I remember helping my mom bake the cake the night before and topping it the following Easter Sunday morning with the gummy candies my grandfather gifted me. After church, I strategically placed the candy in a pattern between each of the 4 candles around the bundt cake. We sang and ate cake using Dora the Explorer table setting, and then my sister and I spent the remainder of the day playing in my favorite park late into the evening. Although the facts are the same, my mother’s version of the story is different. She only had five dollars and went two dollars over budget to buy cake mix, sprinkles and a table setting from the local dollar store with my favorite cartoon character. I didn't know it then, but as I got older, I learned that my recently divorced mother was struggling to make ends meet while doing everything in her power to raise my sister and in a healthy environment. Although she made it look easy, basic needs such as paying for childcare, food and gas to travel to work kept her awake at night. Being a first hand witness of my mothers’ ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and maintain a positive outlook has been a source of inspiration and strength for me. My mothers resilience has instilled in me the belief that with perseverance and hard work, I can overcome any obstacle and achieve my aspirations. Throughout the years, my mother has taught me to keep my head up and persevere through any setbacks that life may throw my way. Seeing my mothers determination, positivity, and grace in the face of hardship continues to motivate me to overcome obstacles, pursue my goals, and strive for success. College is a time of growth and exploration, but it's also a time of challenges and hiccups. Looking past rigorous coursework and distractions, I will continue to make due with what I have. As I navigate the journey towards my aspiration, I carry with me the trait of resilience learned from my mother, knowing that with perseverance, anything is possible.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.

I remember the first time I was made aware of cultural and racial differences like it was yesterday. I grew up in a tight-knit community where everyone looked like me, the food and culture were a perfect blend of my intersectionality of being a Black, female. Although I love my community, the majority of schools were low performing with poor student outcomes. I am more fortunate than most in my community because my parents were able to pay for me to attend an independent school, but far away in my mother’s childhood neighborhood. School was my safe space where my teachers were Guyanese just like my grandparents and the culture, food, and people were familiar. My classmates and I learned together and they became my extended family in my home away from home, but things began to change. My parents divorced and my mother faced financial hardships that forced my sister and I to leave the only school we knew and loved. Thankfully, we were accepted into the only high performing, screened school near our home. This school was quite different in many great ways- it was larger, diverse, and the engaging classes were taught in a state-of-the art building. I also had the ability to choose from many extracurricular activities my previous school didn’t offer, but I noticed that there were not many teachers or students that looked like me or my community, yet the lower performing, unscreened school across the street with the bad reputation did. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a teacher who shared my ethnicity. The only people of color I saw were custodians and security guards. Unlike my old school, I did not see proud images of colored people in our books or on the walls of the school building boasting of the contributions my people have made to society. Ironically, I was in a school closer to my home, getting a better education but I felt small, unrepresented, and culturally insignificant. Although I struggled to find where I fit in in a place where I should feel I belong, I did not let the obstacles prevent me from finding my niche. As a first-year student, it was intimidating to apply for the Mouse Squad, our school’s elite tech team that is mainly comprised of upperclassmen males. I took the entrance exam and had the second highest score. Through the years, I continued to participate in school activities and today I am a leader of my school’s Media Team and one of three anchors who lead our school’s weekly television broadcasts. Cultural diversity and representation matters for so many reasons. A student shouldn’t feel alienated or underrepresented in a learning environment. Instead, school should be a place where people not only learn intellectually but, they learn from one another. I once had a classmate ask, “Why do we have to celebrate Black History?” Instead of being judgmental, I took this opportunity to make this a teachable moment by sharing my proud history and highlighting the contributions African Americans have made to our society. As I reflect on my experiences that make me the person I am today, I am grateful for the life lessons that I have learned. I look forward to the next phase of this journey in college as I strive to make a difference in my life and the lives of others. I know that the road will not always be easy, but I will persevere by doing my part to make the world a better place wherever I am and in any way that I could.