Hello, I am Kiara Blake, a hardworking, driven, and detail-oriented high school student with artistic ability. I am a current senior at Apex Friendship High School in Apex, North Carolina. Here I am a part of the Academy of Engineering, a four-year career academy, and Key Club International. At heart, I've always had an artistic eye with a creative mindset. Growing up, everyone always told me I had artistic talent, whether it was my neat handwriting, drawing freehand, or being extremely organized. Art puts me in another trance and is something that flows naturally. My dream is to find a successful career that aligns with my passion for art & design. In the midst of the busy whirlwind of high school, I made it a personal priority to serve others put in the position. I have exemplified service in diversified forms, directly, or indirectly, big or small through my involvement in clubs and global organizations. I am a Sr. Ambassador in Young Black Leadership Alliance, a non-profit based in Charlotte, NC, focusing on service, leadership, and education. In July of 2022, I experienced this firsthand through our international mission trip to Montego Bay, Jamacia. I glimpsed life in struggling communities for just 6 days but returned with a different mindset and purpose for service. YBLA has transformed us as Sr. Ambassadors to take the initiative, accept challenges, and speak confidently, all to advocate for ourselves and others in the world. Wherever I end up, I hope to continue to incorporate service into what I do. I am looking to major in Business Administration and one day aspire to have my own business related to architecture and interior design in the future. I want to attend an HBCU because earning a college degree would make me a first-generation college student in my family. I am looking forward to the opportunity to connect with high-achieving, like-minded black students on campus. After becoming a part of the Young Black Leadership Alliance, I saw tremendous improvement in myself. This resulted from having other students in the program with work ethics and mindsets similar to my own, which brought out a new level of commitment and competitiveness in me. I aspire to attend an HBCU in the fall of 2023 because it can give me an experience like no other. HBCUs have such a sense of home and community on campus, an atmosphere that I for sure want to be a part of come Fall 2023.

One quality I grew upon recently is my ability to empathize and understand others on a deeper level. This growth came from an experience I had the summer before my senior year. In July 2022, I glimpsed life in the struggling communities of Jamaica as a servant leader in Young Black Leadership Alliance (YBLA), a non-profit that focuses on service, leadership, and education. YBLA allowed me to travel internationally to serve others, with the simple gesture of cleaning their feet and spreading the love of God. Upon arrival in Jamaica, we greeted families with a simple wave and smile. I could immediately feel the sense of community, strength, and love reciprocated throughout the atmosphere. Traveling from home to home we heard their individual stories of loss, struggle, and pain. I found I was connecting with the adults and elders on a deeper level. We conversed over their interests, daily life, and dreams they once envisioned for themselves. At this moment I began to think how their life could have been different given the proper resources and financial support. Ultimately, getting the chance to pray for them was an unforgettable feeling. Each short genuine conversation shared led to a long-lasting hug goodbye and a smile I will never forget. The children were so eager to engage in conversation with us. As we learned more about them, they wanted to learn more about our lives in the United States. Never in my life had I spoken to such intelligent children with huge aspirations and so much potential. They told me about their dream careers of becoming a doctor, lawyer, or singer and some simply wanted to help out their families in any way they could. After this cultural unveiling in Jamaica, I realized that a stretched mind will never go back to its original state. My mind has now grown being exposed to Jamaican culture and the unspoken struggles of others, something I will be able to reflect on for the rest of my life. In these five short days, I unlocked a new level of empathy for others. In addition, I grew a greater sense of gratitude for things I take for granted. At times when I think life is hard, I will forever reflect upon the men, women, and children who continue to have smiles on their faces and an uplifting spirit, despite their situations. This whole experience is just a stepping stone for me to become more empathetic towards others, something life we all need to improve and practice upon.

The competitive dance world is almost like a trance. Once you’re in the moment on stage you don’t want it to end. It feels like you’re in a whole other world and putting on a show for others to enjoy. Performing on stage became a comfort zone for me and allowed me to step out of my shell. I first discovered dance as a fun hobby when moving to North Carolina. I started at the age of 10 which was much later compared to others. Most of them had danced since the age of 2 and have known to dance their whole childhood. My late start to dance put me at a disadvantage; However, it fueled me to work twice as hard to improve my skills. At the start of my dance career, I was taking 1-2 beginner classes for fun, and I have to admit I wasn’t the best. After the first dance season, I still had the urge for something more. When the new dance season started, I took up the opportunity to be a part of my studio competition teams. This became a huge commitment for me as a hardworking student but led to four more years of my dance journey. Dance was a passion of mine that I truly grew to love. I grew great relationships with my peers and loved my instructors and choreographers. Even though dance might not be what I want to do as a career, it was still an impactful time in my life. I am forever grateful that I even discovered dance. It is something that I had no idea I was even capable of having a talent for. I proved to myself that you can try something completely unfamiliar and be good at it.