During my freshman year of high school, I fell in love with an activity that stretched me outside my comfort zone and resulted in a product I could also give back to my family, friends, and community-- acrylic painting! What began as simply an enjoyable art class activity, eventually went on to become one of my favorite hobbies and deepest passions. Through my paintings, I have become empowered by my newfound ability to exercise my freedom of speech, using art as an influential communicator, disruptor, and problem-solver. I have harnessed a powerful tool that contributes to the greater good by raising funds for noteworthy causes, spreading important messages that inspire thought, and eliciting deep emotion. While many of my creations were originally private expressions, it has been a humbling experience to see how my pieces can inspire others in such profound and unique ways when shared. As an aspiring young Black artist, one of my biggest influences as of late has been National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman. Not only is she the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, but also an advocate for racial and gender equality, the environment, gun control, and so many other vastly important subjects. Like her, I aspire to utilize my budding creativity in a way that enacts meaningful social change. Throughout my development as an artist, I have been finding new ways to make my work accessible to the public through an Instagram page and a customized art website. But before leaving for college, I decided that I wanted to make something more impactful. This past month, I have been working to create a public mural at my local hair salon in Inglewood, California. Standing at almost five feet tall, my mural consists of a Black woman proudly rocking her crown of coily Afro-centric hair, surrounded by a cascade of vibrant plants and flowers. I have always had a complicated relationship with my hair. In fact, as a child, I often dreamed of permanently straightening my kinky curls and dying them another color. I was unaware of it then, but I now realize that for me, this fantasy was essentially a rejection of my Black heritage: a feeble attempt to assimilate with the masses. Learning to accept my identity as a Black woman has been a difficult process, but I am proud to say that I now love my hair in all its curly glory. My hope is that this mural will encourage other Black women and girls to do the same- by recognizing and appreciating the immense beauty, power, and grace that their hair holds. During my time at Columbia University, I intend to continue my studies in Visual art and painting, so that I may be better equipped to continue making powerful pieces in the future. From conveying my identity and struggles, to expressing political statements I feel passionate about, my pieces are all extensions of my soul-- each illustrating my core values and beliefs. I have found that intertwining my own personal experiences, views, and thoughts into my pieces enables me to use my art as a form of self expression, while simultaneously creating something that speaks to others as well. Although my pieces are personal expressions, I have witnessed firsthand how art can help foster conversations and contribute towards establishing a sense of community.

As a Black woman, interested in the field of psychology, I feel intrinsically motivated to alleviate the social stigma surrounding mental health within Black Communities. I am extremely grateful to say that mental health topics have always been openly discussed within my family, but unfortunately, that is not the case for many Black Americans. Although mental health awareness has become increasingly popularized by my generation, it remains a taboo subject within our community. This is due in part to historic misconceptions, unrealistic racial stereotypes, and a lack of Black representation within psychological fields. As a rising freshman at Columbia University, I hope to tackle this issue through the implementation of a Council Club that can serve as an avenue to increase mindfulness, provide an emotional outlet, and encourage vulnerability through facilitator-guided council sessions. Council circles have been a formative aspect of my high school experience, and present opportunities for participants to express themselves freely while also developing empathic understanding for others through active listening. While the experience can be therapeutic, the “council process” is not to be confused with therapy, given fundamental differences around confidentiality and the lack of a trained psychotherapist. Regardless, as the president of my current school’s Black Student Union, I have witnessed firsthand how providing students with a space to be open and comfortable can be highly beneficial to participants and the group as a whole. My goal to study psychology and pursue a career in the field is fueled by my desire to become part of a growing population of mental health providers whose Black clients and patients can relate to. Through this club, I hope to kickstart my journey in destigmatizing mental health within the Black community at Columbia, which will serve as a meaningful first step towards my lifelong aspirations in the field of psychology.

Until recently, my kinky curls were my biggest enemy. In fact, I often dreamed of permanently straightening my hair. Although I was not aware then, I now realize this fantasy was essentially a rejection of my Black heritage and a feeble attempt to assimilate with the masses. At school, I constantly had people telling me my hair was either too big, too short, or too wild. Sadly, I believed them, and unknowingly absorbed countless derogatory remarks and damaging self-perceptions. Then, one day in Ninth Grade, I finally reached my breaking point. An insensitive classmate thought it would be funny to secretly stick plastic forks in my thick, curly hair. Embarrassed, I laughed it off in the moment, but felt humiliated and hurt. I had always been so good at sticking up for friends in need, but for some reason, advocating for myself was far more difficult. Regardless, I also knew that if I didn’t overcome this challenge, my complacency would eventually make me a part of the problem. The next day, I pulled the boy aside, and explained how potentially damaging the repercussions of his “joke” could have been. He was sincerely apologetic, promised to change his ways, and never disrespected me again. That year, I continued to grow more comfortable using my voice, and defended myself when needed. Though it took time, I learned not only to accept, but appreciate my Afrocentric hair and Black identity. Still, I wished I had been better equipped to deal with microaggressions at a younger age. I worried about the plight of other Black girls at my predominantly White school who were, like me, most likely dealing with similar emotional burdens from the harmful impacts of recurring slights. An opportunity to explore this further arose when a brilliant Black teacher approached me about participating in a mentorship program called “Sister Circle”. She described how the initiative would provide opportunities for Black girls to form a stronger sense of belonging through mentor and mentee pairings. We would share our lived experiences, dreams and concerns, and strive to embrace our full potential. Because I had expressed my investment in our school’s Black students during previous discussion panels, the teacher asked me to help launch Sister Circle’s pilot group. Immediately, I knew I had found my calling, and eagerly began recruiting participants. Within a few weeks, it became clear just how needed Sister Circle was. As Black girls, we don’t often have the opportunity to unpack our struggles, given how unique they can be to the intersection of our race and gender. But in Sister Circle, Black girls from all ages opened up and connected through our commonalities. We explored concepts like inclusion and belonging, trust and safety, identity and culture. My cohorts and I left each gathering feeling seen, validated and uplifted. Motivated by a deep sense of purpose, I proposed the idea of becoming Sister Circle’s first Student Liaison to the founders. Through this role, I assumed exciting new responsibilities, but most importantly, was able to give back to the program that had given so much to me. As a current senior, I now proudly hold the title of Sister Circle Student President, and have continued to spearhead the group throughout the school year. Sister Circle gave me the opportunity to utilize the knowledge I gained from overcoming adversity and pay it forward as a mentor. Supporting fellow Black girls as they journey toward improved self-acceptance and self-worth has been so gratifying, that I look forward to sharing the benefits of this important program with others during my college experience and beyond!