Serving those around you is one of the most important things that anyone can do. I have traditionally assisted others through volunteer positions, such as serving as an assistant basketball coach for a local youth league, packing food for the homeless at Brown Bag Ministry, and educating students about recycling and composting at NC State. This past June, I was blessed with the opportunity to work for North Carolina News Daily, a local online newspaper. Originally hired to provide editing services, I would soon find myself playing a larger, more important role in uplifting my community. George Floyd was murdered a few days before I began working. While this was not the first time a traumatizing event like this has happened, I couldn’t help but feel shocked and scared during those 8 minutes and 46 seconds, and the days that followed. Soon after, the police murder of Rayshard Brooks was reported. As a young Black teen, my heart felt like it was sinking. Working for a newspaper, I didn’t feel right not saying anything about these atrocities going on, or doing anything to help. My boss felt the same way, and with her help, I was able to begin the most meaningful project of my summer. While most businesses have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to do something to support our Black community. I was tasked with writing one article highlighting Black-owned businesses in North Carolina. However, I didn’t think that one article alone would effectively showcase the diverse array of Black-owned businesses within our state. Fortunately, I had been given the power to perform this project as I saw fit. So, I turned this one article into a series of 6 articles, each featuring up to 25 Black-owned businesses from different sectors. By doing this, I could help both the local economy and hopefully lessen the racial wealth gap that exists today. Because the pandemic impacted businesses differently, finding & verifying information was more difficult than expected. I was thankful to have a co-worker help out, taking care of 2 of the articles. The first of the 6 articles—25 Black-Owned Restaurants in NC—was published on June 19. The “Juneteenth” piece was a huge hit! At our weekly team meeting, I was pleased to find out that my work had gotten the most public attention out of all the articles published that week. Over the next seven days, the remaining articles were published. Seeing my work being presented for everyone to see filled me with pride, but the subject and meaning of these articles really moved me. I also saw the power that engaging with others has—the impact of my first conversation with my boss led to 135 businesses being promoted! Knowing that I had been a big part of something that could help them out was very fulfilling. The highlight of the series for me happened when I was calling a cleaning business in Clayton, to make sure they were still open. When answered, I told them that I was putting together an article to highlight Black-owned businesses across the state. They thanked me, and the man on the line told me, “We really appreciate what you are doing.” This response definitely made me a bit teary-eyed. I knew that all this work I was doing mattered. I knew that people’s lives would be positively impacted by my work. I knew that I was making a difference in the world. Though this year has been filled with much despair, especially for the Black community, there have still been positives, beacons of light in the darkness. I was one of these beacons of light. That fact alone was enough to lift my previously sunken heart, and my spirits. I’m proud of the work I accomplished this summer, but I know that this is just the beginning. Prejudices against minorities are still prevalent in today’s society. As an aspiring engineer, I’m intent on creating practical solutions to solve global problems, which include the issues of inequality and racism. I’m going to continue to showcase Black excellence; whether through articles like I did this summer, by continuing to excel in my courses, or by sharing my personal experiences with those around me. By sharing my culture and my personality with others, I hope to build relationships. I want to show how we are all unique and help people see the value and complexity we all offer. I think this starts with open dialogues and engaging with all types of people. This is what helps prevent injustices and prejudices from occurring in the future. I will continue to support and promote this kind of inclusive community in the future.

Three, two, one, beeeeeeeep. Another game, another loss. Another day spent on the bench. Against my nature, I felt anger and despair growing inside me. I didn’t know what to do. In 8th grade, I was approached by a referee who told me and my parents about the Garner Road Bulldogs, one of the best travel basketball teams in the state. Eager to expand upon my skills, my parents agreed to take me to the tryouts to see if I was good enough to make the team. The tryout alone was an eye-opener for me. During the first drill, a mere eighth grader rose up and forcefully dunked the ball! In all my awe, I missed the first layup I took at the tryout. I recognized that if I was going to make the team, I would need to rely on my skills rather than my athletic ability. I slowed down during the drills, and gained confidence as shots began to fall. I realized that I belonged here, with these great players. A few days later, I received news that I had made the team! Garner Road practices were unlike anything I had ever experienced. New concepts that were common to everyone else flooded my mind. After weeks of preparation, the time for games finally arrived. Even though I wasn’t playing a lot of minutes, I competed hard every second I played, which my coach took notice of. I was having fun, and growing as a player. Unfortunately, that changed after I suffered my first major injury. A sprained big toe. The physical pain forced me in a walking boot, but paled in comparison to the pain of not being able to do what I loved. For six weeks, I came to games wearing casual clothes, not my uniform. I watched my teammates run, play, and bond with each other on the court, while I remained alone on the bench. Disappointment in myself was the only feeling I could focus on. I’m someone who is always smiling, but that simple task felt like a chore. It got worse even after I was cleared to participate. To my dismay, my already few minutes were down. Games passed where I didn’t even play. The coach said I needed more time, but as the weeks passed, nothing improved. I was determined to change this. I competed harder than all my teammates during our practices. I dived on the floor for every loose ball, and made sure to finish first in every conditioning drill. Yet I remained on the bench. My eagerness to get back onto the court was replaced with dread. I began to doubt myself, and lose both faith in my skill, and the love that I felt for basketball. In our second to last game of the season, I didn’t get a single second of play. Frustrated for me, my father wanted us to leave early. But we stayed. And in the next game, much to my astonishment, I was a starter. That day, I dominated the competition, finishing with a team-high 16 points in my final game wearing a Garner Road jersey. We won the game, but the smile on my face was because I had realized something. Bad times are temporary. Time is cruel, in that it doesn’t care about how much adversity I might be facing, or how terrible I’m feeling. It just keeps on ticking. I can’t afford to surrender myself to time, to give up. I learned that it’s okay to feel down, but I must maintain a “short-term” memory. During a game, I can’t think long about every missed shot or every mistake made. That won’t lead to success. And so during the course of my life, I won’t dwell on every negative experience. Instead, I’ll focus on the good that is happening now, and the good that is bound to come later. I’ve had to put this lesson learned into action quicker than expected. I broke my foot last summer, forcing me to miss my entire junior year of basketball. In early April, my grandfather died. He lived in Barbados, which closed its borders due to COVID-19, so we were unable to attend his funeral. And now, the continued impacts of this pandemic have all but put an end to my hopes of having a spectacular senior year. It feels like I am back on the bench at Garner Road, powerless. Hopeless. But bad times are temporary. Even though things haven’t gone as planned this year, there have still been opportunities to find enjoyment. My family has been playing a lot of card and board games together. My high-school hosted a Senior Car Parade. And I’ve been able to spend more quality time with my little brother. I continue to look out for and take note of the positive experiences in my life. I’m thankful for each and every one, and I’m hopeful that there will be even more great opportunities awaiting us when things finally turn around.