There was a time in which I didn't quite fit in, no matter how hard I tried. I thought dancing was my niche, especially after being committed for 8 years, and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I was denied an opportunity to continue dancing in my high school career, and I had to find something else to do. I tried everything from painting, to creating jewelry, to doing hair. I finally landed on something good for my body, and my mental health, and made my college resume look good: volleyball. I went to pre-season training and made the junior varsity team. Here, I met my now best friend, who, outside of volleyball, had been accepted into our school's Visual Performing Arts (VPA) Theater Program. I began to follow her around and involved myself more in that program, by way of assisting the stage managers, and the lighting and sound crew. Amidst keeping my grades up, I was officially titled an honorary member of VPA Theater. I dedicated my evenings after school to making sure their shows ran smoothly. Here, I met another one of my close friends, who was involved in ALOT more things than I was. He introduced me to the world of show choir. I hadn't been singing since I was about 10, but I decided to try at it once again and not to my surprise I was accepted into the Northwestern Highschool Undercats Show Choir. The only Show Choir in Prince George's County Maryland as well. I can't say we're the best but we're pretty darn good. We commit a lot of time and so much effort to our performances. Not only is it a very talented group, but I finally feel like I belong somewhere. Show Choir is my second family. I can tell them anything and I know they'll support me through everything. Most importantly our goal is to encourage upcoming high schoolers to do whatever makes them feel at home. Whether it's visual art, botany, or even musical theater, we want them to know that Northwestern is a safe place to be themselves and explore all the options life has to offer. Show Choir has made many kids feel at home no matter their background, or ethnicity. Once we all step into the practice room, we're all one big family, sticking by your side whether you like it or not. Show choir feels like home to me because unlike other groups, I'm given so much room to grow, try new things, and even fail tremendously. I don't have to be afraid of messing up because I know everyone there is also working towards better. No matter what level their talent is on, we all started from the bottom, and we're ALL working towards the very top. And in that situation, we can only learn to help one another. Not just our cast/ crew mates, but people outside of Show Choir as well. I find myself humbling myself every day to help someone new. Either in my classes or outside of school, I find it so fulfilling to be a beacon, to help, or to encourage someone with any problem they have. Show Choir has not only sculpted me into a better singer, dancer, and actress, but it has humbled me into a community leader, and I can only hope that the ones who come after us, our successors, feel and act and learn to do the same.

"The sting of the summer sun on my skin Powering the melanin that gives me knowledge Letting me know what I come from Roots deeper than they are willing to teach A sting that lets me know these things I come from soldiers That upkept entire colonies And powered entire cultures And did it with only the resources That mother earth provided for them I am the wildest dream Of my ancestors who fought Not for me but for freedom Freedom from people who feared our power People that held us down I am a little black girl With the world in my palms With the will to conquer everything thrown my way And the power to play Eve in a world of Adam’s To birth new generations I have the hands of those Who overcame mass oppression with their bare hands I have the voice of those Who screamed endlessly until they won I have the power to be and do anything I am the power without oppression I am the voice without the silencer I am the tree attached to deep roots And as long as the sun rises each day I will have the power it gives." The Sun, by Briana Matthews.

In 2005 my father made a promise to me. One that stated he'd never leave and that he'd make sure that I would be the only child in the family that never saw the ugly side of him. I don't believe he ever intended to break that promise, but 16 years later he passed away from the very addiction he promised he would never submit to again. I was already struggling with depression, and after my father, my best friend, passed away from drug overdose, I found it extremely hard to see the point in living beyond that point. The realization struck me like a fiery bag of bricks: what was there to live for, if we're all only going to die? It was the few choice words that my mother uttered that saved me from sailing too far out in the deep end of my thoughts, "It's true, we'll all pass on from this world. But what will you leave behind?" That thought made me reflect. Of course everyone will eventually pass away, but what matters is what we leave behind to future generations. What impact will we leave as a sign to the next coming that says, "keep going, you're closer then you know" or, "don't give up now, the finale is worth the show." I want to leave my print on the world through the arts, using dance and musical theater to tell the impactful story of my life, and how I overcame each adversity that was thrown my way. I want to encourage young black girls that are different from their peers to continue being different. To continue standing out, and aiming higher than the best. I want to be an example to the new generation that, if you believe the sky is the bare minimum, you'll go way beyond the stars. I may not have not yet have reached my glory, but I have all the will to fight. And someday when my story is told, everyone will see that the end is never anything like the beginning, and if you feel it in your soul to go after something, then what you're reaching for is already yours.