What brought you to WYWLA? How did you feel when you were accepted?

My brother attended the men's academy, which is what brought me to WYWLA. I felt thrilled when I got accepted because I didn't really want to go to my base school.

How would you describe yourself as a student in middle school?

I would describe myself as joyful but also stressed out because of the assignments and the workload we have to do in such a short amount of time.

Do you feel added pressure or experience any struggles being part of a first generation in your family to attend/ graduate from college? How did you overcome these challenges? 

I feel a lot of pressure being the first generation to graduate from college, especially as a girl. I overcome this pressure by trying not to think about it  too much or pressuring myself about it.

What advice were you given in your academic journey?

I was advised to keep pushing, work through the hard stuff, and keep going even though life can be hard.

What colleges have you thought about possibly attending/graduating from?

I am not sure what college I would like to attend yet. I am in the process of researching them.

Who currently forms your support system?

My parents and my brothers form my support system as they support me by always being there for me, attending my school events, and helping me out when I'm stressed.

Have you given thought to what you’d like to study and become professionally after you graduate from college?

I would like to be a perinatologist because I feel like it would be a fun experience, especially because I love taking care of babies and revealing their genders.

What will it mean to your family when you graduate from college? 

They would be proud of me, considering I will be the first girl to graduate from college in the entire family!

What piece of advice or words of wisdom do you have to WYWLA students who will be the first in their family to attend/ graduate from college?

Keep on trying, you'll eventually succeed. Don't stop, you'll get there!

What brought you to WYWLA? How did you feel when you were accepted?

The early college and leadership program brought me here. When I found out I was accepted I felt sad because most of my friends were going to Neuse River Middle School, and I really wanted to go there too. But now that I'm here, I love my friends and everyone is just really nice.

How would you describe yourself as a student in middle school?

I would describe myself as lucky to be a part of WYWLA, because not everyone who wanted to come here got accepted.

Do you feel added pressure or experience any struggles being part of a first-generation family to attend/ graduate from college? How did you overcome these challenges?

This school is really hard to be honest, so it does add pressure to me. I really struggle with math the most, and reading would be second.

What advice were you given in your academic journey?

My math teacher Mrs. Cornwright told me “Do your part, because you are the leader of your journey.”

What colleges have you thought about possibly attending/graduating from?

I’m thinking about Meredith College because my cousin is there right now. I still don't fully know, though.

Who currently forms your support system?

My teachers mostly, but also my parents and friends.

Have you given thought to what you’d like to study and become professionally after you graduate from college?

I really wanted to be an elementary school teacher but then I thought about it and I realized that i’m not that good at all the subjects. Then I thought of becoming a cashier at a store, but then I realized that when giving change back it will take me awhile to calculate and I can’t just do it all in my head, so I don't know now. 

What will it mean to your family when you graduate from college? 

They will be proud!

What pieces of advice or words of wisdom do you have to WYWLA students who will be the first in their family to attend/ graduate from college?

• Trust the process and at the same time think before acting, or think before you speak and think of the outcome, whether it will be good or bad.

• Don't randomly start drama with people for no reason at all.

• ALWAYS ask for help when you need it, whether that's from your friends and you all call after school, or from a family member, teacher, parent, aunt, uncle, etc.

• ALWAYS do your homework, because if you don't, the outcome will not be good.

• Do things to help yourself learn and focus better.

• Don't get into fights and drama even when others try to pull you into it (I learnt that the hard way).

• Worry about your grades, but not the type of worry where you overthink them.

• STUDY FOR MAJORS!

• Don't cheat on tests or on your work, and when others ask for the answers just say ‘I don't know’ or ‘I haven't gotten to that one.'

• Be friends with everyone, but at the same time, if they continuously friend you and then unfriend you then don't be their friend because they are just messing with your feelings.

• Don't stress too much over school work, because you need to give yourself some time to have hobbies outside of school.

• Trust your gut and heart more than your brain.

• Don't joke around with people a lot because they have a boundary line, and if you cross it, then just apologize and don't do it again because some people are quite sensitive.

• Don’t skip school for no reason because the next day when you get back you will have to make up a lot of work from all of your classes, and that's a lot. Especially in middle school, because you have higher expectations than elementary school students.

• If one of your friends or anyone is trying to get you to do something bad, then trust your gut. Don’t listen to them and quickly tell a trusted adult.            

• Always think of your parents as your best friends and ask them for advice when you don't know what to do or are struggling.