Senior Essay 22

Throughout high school, my peers and I set out to foster a stronger sense of community within our student groups. One major accomplishment at my school was creating our club, Black Leaders of America. This club was created in 2022, with the help of other students and a few teachers who attend our school. During middle school, attending a school that was predominantly other races rather than black was a life-changing experience. Walking into High School, other black students and I looked forward to a welcoming sense of community. A place to be understood and have assistance with the efforts to educate others on their words and actions, and how they may affect others. However, when my friends and I began our freshman year of high school, we immediately noticed the separation between students. It felt demeaning. The high expectations we had were immediately shut down. It felt as if it were a repeated year of middle school. Although many challenges were faced, other black students and I frequently had talks about our experiences, good and bad, past and present. We noticed how students of other races had community within themselves and others, because they had groups where they could connect and educate others. The things we noticed led to the idea of starting a club that would bring the black community in our school together. The representation that we have would be important not only to ourselves but to others, too. The togetherness that would be created would be exemplary, that we are here and deserve just as much respect as others. As mentioned, the goals of this club were to show representation of the community among black students and allies. We wanted to connect to show that we aren’t alone in the negatives and positives we’ve experienced. In addition, we worked to offer education for others outside of our community. In efforts to create respect between everyone and bring our entire school community together. Our club continued for 3 more years until the beginning of the school year in 2025. Our club was then mixed into the Multicultural club. As one of the creators of Black Leaders of America, it was hurtful to see our club be taken away. Others and I faced many challenges with teachers, students, administrators, and people outside of our school when making efforts to keep our group thriving. Although the individual representation was very important to our school and younger students also in the black community, as a group, we are still appreciative of the accomplishments we’ve made. Joining the Multicultural club still gives us our much-needed representation and has also allowed us to speak highly of the black community in our school, and still accomplish the goals we had when engaging in BLA. As an individual, I’ve displayed leadership in many ways: being a captain in Cheer, Wrestling, and Track and Field, being a social media manager in Multicultural Club, and being a member of Multicultural Club, Pep club, KAY Club, and 2020 Leadership. However, being one of the creators of Black Leaders of America is my greatest accomplishment. Having the opportunity to create something new and experience challenges, I’ve learned ways of persuasion, problem-solving, and most importantly, determination. Being in this group has taught me how much I also care for others and their sense of safety in their community. I plan to value and use these skills throughout college and my future career as a Pediatric Nurse to display confidence and passion. I intend to use these skills throughout my career and work to pass them down to others.