by faith and courage

and then I walked to the door, stepped outside and made a left. crossed Park Avenue. there's a new store there now, def not Gorgeous, where I used to get my sausalito cookies. where I gave C-H-O-P-P-E-R-ah the side eye. I saw swimsuits or something more ridiculous in the windows. but I guess at least someone's occupying the space.

to Lex. to 77th street. six years of doing this walk, last time was five years ago, and little has changed. of course the class of '04 skipped their reunion. I wasn't surprised. disappointed, but not surprised.

and that's why I went, regardless. groupthink. i'm over it. for six years my school spirit was kept at bay. my beliefs about the need for diversity remained hidden. for six years it seemed that it was more engaging to bitch about what the school was doing wrong than offer meaningful suggestions about how to do it right. and for six years, I found it easier to be a follower, rather than a leader.

but today, I decided to have a stake in a school and a community I care greatly about. because, at Hewitt, I learned the importance of family. of community. and even if I was the only of 23, I was surrounded by enrichment and development. a faculty and staff who recognized my intelligence and nurtured it. a faculty and staff who not only listened to my dreams, but helped me achieve them. and so I hope to ensure that another young black girl, just like me, can experience the privilege of attending a great preparatory school, just like Hewitt.