My Journey as a Schomburg Junior Scholar
Faith Welch '26
Every Saturday, I step into the Schomburg Center, surrounded by the energy of Black history, creativity, and scholarship. As a current Junior Scholar, I’m living the experience I once only dreamed of; and it’s shaping me in ways I never expected.
Growing up in Greenport, a small village on the North Fork of Long Island, I always felt a deep connection to the untold stories of African Americans in my community. That curiosity led me here, to the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program, where I’m not just studying history; I’m living it, debating it, and connecting it to our world today.
Special Projects: Finding My Voice in Spoken Word
One of the best parts of the program is our Special Project Groups, where we choose an area of study that speaks to us; like music, radio journalism, visual art, or, in my case, spoken word. My group is writing a spoken word play, and it’s one of the most vulnerable, mature spaces I’ve ever been part of. We’re digging deep into our stories, blending poetry with theater, and creating something raw and real. It’s challenging, but it’s also helping me find my voice in ways I never imagined.
The Doors This Program Opens
Schomburg doesn’t just teach; it elevates us. The opportunities here are unreal. This year, I won the Princeton Prize in Race Relations; a $2,500 award with a 0.01% acceptance rate, for my research on Black history in Greenport. The program guides us in applying for competitions, writing contests, and scholarships that most students never even hear about. We also are introduced to study abroad opportunities, I have so many classmates in places like Japan, Africa, and Rome. Junior Scholars have interviewed President Obama, visited Columbia, Yale, and Howard Universities, and researched in world-class archives. We don’t just read history, we meet the people who make it. From D.C. museums to Harlem’s cultural institutions, we go beyond the classroom. This year, we toured the National Museum of African American History and Culture, then discussed it with curators. We’ve attended multiple Broadway plays, Opera’s, and Puma developing and marketing workshops. These aren’t just field trips, these are master classes. Whether it’s presenting at national conferences or performing at Schomburg's famous events, we’re given platforms most adults spend years chasing.
The Community That Changed Everything
Beyond the research and the opportunities, the real magic of Schomburg is the people. The other Junior Scholars aren’t just classmates, they’ve become my chosen family. We debate history, laugh over inside jokes, and push each other to think bigger. And the mentors? They’ve shown me that Black history isn’t just something we study; it’s something we create, something we fight for.
Why Schomburg Matters
This program isn’t just teaching me about the past, it’s showing me how to shape the future. Whether I’m in the archives, performing with my spoken word group, or networking with scholars at Yale, I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.