Semester Reflections

Semester 3: Memories from Africa and The Hope of Storytelling 

After a summer filled with roadtrips across the rocky country of Africa, meaningful media projects with Baltimore youth, and assisting with legal cases, I deepened not only my passion for human experiences but also my understanding of how significant storytelling is across multiple mediums. This semester has been a culmination of ups and downs, career uncertainty, concerts, and books. As I grow as a student, I find my love for art shining through the simplest of moments: through conversations, the mess, the food, the color of the leaves, the sky before it rains, movement, and more. Art and its mediums have the power to transform what was once a dull, stress-induced experience into something more hopeful. 

As I approach crafting my magazine for my capstone project, I find myself noticing the beauty in the little things. Engaging in intercultural communication and embracing diverse cultures has reshaped my understanding of how art can serve as a social catalyst for change and empower individual experiences within society. I recently came across Nikki Giovanni’s 1970 poem "Revolutionary Dreams" and, once again, found myself stunned by the power of her words. Her expression of the yearning for revolution and the strength in using one’s voice continues to impact me 50 years later. Through the poem’s ability to reach individuals across time, the resistance and power of revolution remain evident.  

As a young girl, I have always found myself drawn to poetry- its powerful underlying messages and the stories of the past. I fell in love with Langston Hudges and Maya Angelou’s words, feeling the power and resilience that come from highlighting the voices of those who have been silenced. I felt a similar sense of awe when I attended the field trip to the Kayla Farrish Dance: Put Away the Fire, Dear. My friend Grace and I spent the entire evening dissecting its meaning, in complete shock at the depth of Farrish’s dance and the impact of the movements and histories emphasized. It felt as though I was transported to another time through art, drawn away from my technology and the outside world, and fully present in the moment. Art has always had the power to engulf you in its story and make you forget the outside world.

As a developing storyteller, I feel deeply connected to artistic movements and the ways art can serve as both a revolution and a form of political resistance. Later in the semester, during West African Drumming, I felt an especially deep connection to my culture as a Guinean. It felt as if I was back there over the summer, suddenly feeling the sweat from the sun, surrounded by my language, and immersed in the drumming we would do at night. These experiences not only reconnected me to my culture but also highlighted the resilience in my history, as well as the importance of folklore and keeping storytelling alive. Embracing culture and history alongside my peers has been one of the most enriching experiences this semester. It is what ultimately guided me toward creating my magazine, which explores different aspects of culture and the role storytelling plays in growth and development, while also uplifting the voices of underrepresented communities. I cherish moments rooted in human experience, as they remain some of the most significant parts of my personal development. My arts scholar experience is far from over, and I am excited to continue to craft meaningful messages, communicate more deeply with my community, and explore the intersection of art, culture, resistance, and storytelling.