Spotlight on U (Students)

What is your favorite subject in school and why?

My favorite subject is history. I think it’s one of the most relevant subjects we learn in school. It’s super interesting and creates opportunities for discussion. Also, when you look at current events and then at history, you can see a lot of trends repeating. I’m currently taking AP Art History. Right now, we’re studying the medieval era, which is really interesting.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done in a school project or lesson?

Last year in AP Art History, we had a big final project. The directions were for us to create artwork that reflected what we’d learned over the year. My group decided to recreate “The Last Supper.” We had to coordinate robes, colors, food, plates and more. Students from other classes even joined in. It was a huge group effort. We got a 100!

If you could learn any skill instantly, what would it be?

It would be public speaking. I’m working on it now, but I’d like to be able to speak confidently and articulate my thoughts without anxiety. I think it’s important for any job, especially since I want to be a lawyer. I used to have a slight stutter, and though it’s faded over time, it still comes up when I’m anxious. That snowballs into anxiety about speaking in front of a crowd or saying the wrong thing.

Would you rather be able to talk to animals or speak and understand any language in the world?

I would rather speak and understand any language. With what I want to do [become a lawyer], it would be valuable to talk to anyone and understand their perspective without having to learn each language individually.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like playing and watching basketball. I also watch other sports like soccer and I enjoy reading. One of my favorite books is The Hate U Give. It’s very moving and enlightening about what it means to be a Black person in America.

What career would you like to go into?

I want to go into law. For some reason, I’ve always been drawn to it. During my first year of high school, I participated in a mock trial at a school fair, and that really stuck with me. I’m also involved with legislative advocacy through the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). My parents researched different alopecia organizations because I was struggling with it, and that’s how we found NAAF. They wanted to make sure I had support and it opened the door for me to get involved in advocacy work. At first, I didn’t want it to define my identity, but over time, it’s become more important to me. We attend conferences in D.C. and meet with senators and representatives to talk about bills and legislation. It’s powerful and inspired me to want to protect people and fight for legislation in the political arena.

What’s your favorite genre of music, favorite artist and current favorite song?

I like R&B and also some indie/alternative music. My favorite artist right now is Giveon, who sings R&B. My current favorite song is “About You” by The 1975, which is indie/alternative. What draws me most to a song is the lyrics and when I can understand what the artist is saying and the experiences they’re talking about, it speaks to me more.

What celebrity would you want to be your best friend, and why?

I would choose LaMelo Ball. I’m a big Charlotte Hornets fan and he’s one of my favorite players. He seems like a funny, down-to-earth guy. I’d probably shoot hoops with him, see how he works out, hang out and then watch him play in a game later in the day.