Flash forward to today — a little over a year later — and I am successfully balancing the academic pressures of AP courses and PSAT prep, maintaining a high GPA, participating in extracurricular activities such as basketball, and holding a leadership position as the student government vice president of finance. 

What changed?

Upon my return to school, I encountered a community of teachers who genuinely cared about me and my success. Beyond my grades, they cared about the habits that I was building and took a personal interest in the type of person I was becoming. Off the bat, Mr. Rojas, my principal, had extremely high expectations — and he held me to them. He introduced me to a concept called “natural consequences.” He helped me realize that my own actions would either propel or hinder my success. SA high school focuses on preparing students for highly selective colleges, and this understanding of natural consequences plays a big part in that. 

From left to right: Associate Dean Ronda Ramos, Haneef Maliki, and Principal Dan Rojas

My dean, Ms. Ramos, helped me to build discipline and drove me to become a better person. I was a mediocre student who frequently talked out of turn. Rather than just telling me to do better, Ms. Ramos frequently sat with me and talked through the bad habits that were blocking my success. She gave me advice that would help me both in and out of school, such as time management and being friends with the right people. She encouraged me to get involved in extracurriculars like basketball.

Through the encouragement of leadership and teachers, I shifted my mindset surrounding school. I started going to office hours, began completing my assignments earlier, and changed my study habits. I went from being a student who wanted to give up in the face of an obstacle like missing the beginning of the school year, to one who realized that strategic study habits, pride in my work, and determination could get me back on track. 

I began to think about high school as preparation for the real world. I realized that being proactive and completing my work is not just a school thing — as I get older and get a job, I will need to submit high-quality work in order to show my manager what I can do. If I am not working hard, people will underestimate my abilities. 

I ultimately realized that by not doing my best, I was only hurting myself. I believe that if I put in my best and try my hardest to have a strong work ethic and good discipline, it will continue to bring me success. To earn a scholarship and go to college is my ultimate goal — and thanks to those who have my back, I’m confident that I can do it. 

Haneef Maliki is a 10th grade scholar at SA High School of the Liberal Arts – Harlem 

Currently, there are 360 eighth graders who want to continue their educational journey at SA. During the most recent Joint Public Hearing, an open forum for people to address the voting members of the Panel for Education Policy, twenty passionate SA middle schoolers spoke up for their education. Their powerful testimonies will inform the panel’s final vote on April 27, when it will decide whether to approve space for Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts–Brooklyn. If approved, SA’s third high school will open its doors this August for the 2022–2023 school year. Here’s what some of the future high schoolers had to say:

“Soon my classmates and I will apply for high schools. I really want to be a cell biologist. To do that I need to attend a school that offers all the best advanced science classes. I don’t know if the district school that I get allocated to will offer that, but I do know that if I go to Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts, that I will have all the opportunities available to go to the best college for me to achieve my goals.”

—Charlotte Reich, Grade 7, SA Bed-Stuy MS

SA MYMS: Aniya Hernandez (grade 8), Andrew Beckles (grade 8), Melody McKenzie (grade 8)

“I would like to start with a formal thank you to the committee for granting me the opportunity to advocate for my school, as Success holds a deep place in my heart… In all, Success is a great way for students to feel involved as they advance in their education, and even in the world, so for a high school to be opened in Brooklyn would surely bring joy not just to me, but to the hearts of many, as they feel safe with Success.”

—Isaiah Aulet, Grade 8, SA Ditmas Park MS

“I want to be a computer scientist when I grow up. A Success Academy High School would help with that. I’m really excited to take the math and science classes because if I learn math and science, I will be able to put that to the test with computer science. People who want to fulfill their dreams would need a good education and high school.”

—Shayne Alexander, Grade 8, SA Ditmas Park MS

SA DPMS: Soliel Francois (Grade 7), Raziya Palmer (Grade 8), Shayne Alexander (Grade 8), Amaya Aneke (Grade 8)

“Success Academy is not just a school, but a strong community that is able to adapt and that supports every member for any of their needs. Success Academy has helped me and countless others through hard times and so many students have benefited from that and excelled from the excellence of Success Academy.”

—Sadie Koonce, Grade 7, SA Lafayette MS

“I am a girl with many dreams, one of the hundreds of soon to be writers, doctors, vets, actors, chemists, and politicians of Success Academy. Children all over Brooklyn, K-8, have untapped potential that can only really be unlocked by Success Academy’s extensive extracurriculars and community. The opportunity to have an SA high school that offers a competitive and intensive curriculum in comparison to specialized high schools right here in our neighborhood, is an opportunity that must not be turned down.”

—Soleil Francois, Grade 7, SA Ditmas Park MS

We are so proud of these scholars for advocating for themselves and students like them, who need world-class schools and equal access to opportunity, regardless of zip code. They have proved once again that Success Academy scholars go above and beyond to achieve the education they deserve.

SA LAMS: Sadie Koonce (Grade 7), Milan Peoples (Grade 7), Yaya Barry (Grade 8)

SA BSMS: (Not in order) Charlotte Reich (Grade 7), Sukanya Ghanie (Grade 7), Adrian Iparraguirre (Grade 7), Miquel Utset (Grade 8), Viannelly Leger (Grade 8), Angelina Edwards (Grade 8), Saliou Sarr (Grade 8).

What’s it like to study at the college level while still in high school? We asked HSLA-MA sophomore Michael Solano to share a little about his interest in computer science and what he liked about tackling Python programming in the Georgia Tech course.

What sparked your interest in computer science?

As a kid I played a lot of video games, and I became really interested in how things actually worked behind the scenes. In fifth grade, one of the final units of science for the year was computer science — and I was pretty stoked because I immediately hoped to be able to make my own game. That didn’t happen, but I learned the basics of HTML. Skip to seventh grade computer science: for our final project we had to make our own website. I made a homepage that I was proud of, and it ended up being one of the best ones my teacher had seen that day. I think from that day onward I kind of understood my potential and how far this could go; whenever someone used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never really had an answer —and now I did.

How did you end up in the Computing in Python I course?

At the beginning of freshman year I was invited and accepted into the STEM Academy at HSLA-MA, which is a set of courses for students who are really passionate about a specific subject area and want to take on college-level study so that they can major in STEM. That first year, I took electrical and mechanical engineering courses, but then I was invited to apply for Computing in Python I — and I was accepted. 

What is it like to learn Python asynchronously through the edX platform?

I honestly thought it was surprisingly simple. The edX courses are usually formatted in the same way, with sets of videos with corresponding (ungraded) exercises (multiple choice or Coding problems), and then corresponding graded problem sets to test what you’ve learned. One of the nice things about edX is that you can really try any problem as much as you want when it comes to the problem sets. Even on tests you get at least two tries on all multiple choice and infinite tries on any coding problem. 

A lot of college courses have teaching assistants, who are important resources for students. How was your experience working with them at Georgia Tech? 

One thing I like is how they really encourage you to try your best, but won’t help you on anything you haven’t attempted on your own first, which honestly really encourages me to try a bit harder on some problems where I find myself stuck. I would really encourage anyone who wants to take the course to be incredibly mindful of office hours as they help a lot! 

How has this course furthered your interest in computer science?

The  introduction to a whole new computing language was super interesting to me. As you learn more, you begin to see more of the real world applications of coding. I feel like this course has made me want to not only continue to develop my knowledge in Python, but other languages as well, which is what I’m doing this summer as I attend Upperline Code as part of my SA Summer Experience fellowship. 

Do you plan to continue in Computing in Python II? 

For sure! I think Python is a very interesting language because it encourages a lot of logical thinking skills that I think are very useful and interesting to learn. I also just want to be able to challenge myself academically. 

Who should consider applying for this program? What types of interests  should they have? What types of skills should they have coming into the course?

It’s an amazing opportunity to be accepted; you’re basically getting a free college course done and out of the way with, which looks really good on college applications! I would recommend this course to those who wish to challenge themselves, and not just academically. If you think you struggle with procrastination, take this class! It gets you into the habit of complying with deadlines — you have everything from the start — all you need to do is just get it done! Dedicate a few hours to watching the videos or doing practice problems with your friends, go to office hours, help each other during lunch, do it whenever you feel like you need to. One of the best pieces of advice I can give is simply to not procrastinate. Coming from experience, if you end up falling behind one or more problem sets a few days before a test, you’re not going to succeed. The course is a test of consistency. Deadlines are incredibly lenient, often giving you MONTHS to complete a unit! 

If I’m being honest, for the first semester the course stayed pretty simple. Later content gets more challenging as concepts get more complex. However, if you truly dedicate yourself to learning the content, taking notes, and putting in the work, you’ll be just fine.

Michael, second from left, with other STEM enthused classmates.

It’s human nature to focus on the negative: What’s going wrong? Where am I falling short? It was important to me that our campaign brought attention to and celebrated the positive: the goodness in the people we spend each day with. With that in mind, we launched the 1,000 Acts of Kindness Challenge, which encouraged scholars and staff to document acts of kindness and submit them to a “ballot box” with the goal of reaching 1,000 acts schoolwide in a month. We knew we’d have strong results because the foundation was already there, but we didn’t anticipate how quickly we’d surpass our goal — we reached 1,075 submissions within two weeks — or by how much — ultimately, our community recorded 1,778 acts of kindness. 

The Challenge transformed SA Harlem East MS in two important, interconnected ways: by encouraging us to recognize and appreciate the kindness of our community members and by energizing us to be even kinder ourselves. My favorite part of the Challenge was seeing the lengths to which our scholars, staff, and teachers went to lift each other’s spirits every day. Scholars were immediately invested, coming into school early to report friends’ and teachers’ acts of kindness. The feeling that we were working toward a common objective — we were determined to reach that goal of 1,000 acts — was electrifying. I saw scholars strengthen old friendships and forge new ones — relationships that persist to this day! A few scholars remarked that “kind is the new cool.” I couldn’t agree more. 

I asked some members of the Harlem East community to tell me about their favorite Acts of Kindness from the Challenge. Their reflections are below.

“During the challenge, I noticed my student Layla Davis emulating some of the acts of kindness I take pride in modeling — saying good morning, holding the door open for others,  picking up trash on the floor. I felt so proud to see her replicate these gestures because I knew she genuinely wanted to do her best to be a kind person — something I want all of my students to be.” —Carlos Alvarez, Sixth Grade STEM Teacher, Math Lead 

“One day, a scholar came into the Main Office with her nose bleeding. In the past, she had been brought in by an adult or come in alone, but this time, she was escorted by sixth-grader DeAnni Ruiz. DeAnni provided support, making sure her friend had enough tissues and telling her, ‘You can get through this, and I’m here if you need anything.’ It was heartwarming to know that scholars have each other’s backs, no matter what.”  —Jasmaine Quashie, Community Relations Coordinator

“A memorable moment for me was when we reached 1,075 Acts of Kindness — more than we’d planned for the month-long Challenge — in just the second week of the campaign. I was touched by how generous and considerate our school community was. Seeing everyone take a moment from their busy days to shout out all the good they saw in SA Harlem East filled me with joy.” —Bridget McNamara, Senior Leader

“Segnonble Yoanson, an eighth-grade scholar, went above and beyond to help his friend Joey, who was injured in the stairwell. Segnonble brought his friend to the nurse and stayed with him until he received care. I was proud that he took the initiative to take care of his friend. Later that same week, he was recognized for performing the Kind Act of the Week.” —Drew Kingman, Eighth Grade STEM Teacher, Math Lead 

“During the Challenge, the small, unseen kind deeds our scholars and faculty perform every day were acknowledged and celebrated. I was touched when fifth-grader Bryce Thompson wrote me a note thanking me for saying ‘good morning’ to him every day — an inconsequential act on my part that I learned meant a lot to him and even made his day.” —Sophia Fredo, 5th Grade Humanities Teacher, History Lead

On a schoolwide level, the Challenge rallied us around the idea that you can never be too kind. You can always lend a helping hand. You can make someone’s day by checking in to see how they’re doing or just by giving them a smile. Our scholars are shouting out each other’s acts of kindness to this day, and they’re not doing it because they’re trying to reach a numerical goal. It comes from the heart. 

You both received multiple offers to specialized high schools. How did you decide? 

Tasnim: STEM has always been my main focus, so when I earned a place at the High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College I was excited. Still, I thought it was important to do research before deciding, so I went to all of the open houses. I wanted to see which environment I felt most comfortable with. I also looked at the curriculum at each school. I wanted variety because I love math and science, but I also love music. I spoke to my parents about my different goals for high school and for college. For high school I wanted a chance to try new things, but long-term I also wanted an experience that would prepare me to do well in college. Since I earned a place in the Honors STEM program —where we get to take college-level engineering and pre-med classes — I decided it seemed like the best option for all the things I wanted. 

Kayla: It was a really difficult choice. I’ve always wanted to go to LaGuardia — I was pretty excited to audition and be accepted — and I also received an offer from the Brooklyn Technical High School. I’m the same as Tasnim, in the end it was the variety of options at Success that made me decide to stay here. I’m really into singing, dancing, and acting and I didn’t want to be limited by having to choose just one or two of these passions. I saw that Success offers tons of arts electives and also clubs, and when I spoke to the advisors and deans I found out that there is some flexibility in changing your schedule once you start here — so that means you can try some classes out to see what you like best and you aren’t locked into anything. That was exciting to me. 

Are you happy with your choice so far?  

Tasnim: The best part about going to school here is that I found it easy to make friends with a lot of different kids from different grades. My upperclassmen friends are all from Track, which I take as an elective. I’m also in the Band Club, so I have friends who are excited about music. And I’m in the Humanitarian Club, which is all about giving back to the community and doing volunteer work. It’s exciting to feel involved both in school and outside — we recently got together on a Saturday to bring meals to the elderly. I’m also learning to code in computer science, so I do feel that I have the variety I was looking for. 

Kayla: I also have a lot of new friends from different grades, which helps when it comes to getting advice on how to get the most out of high school! I was really scared to start meeting new people when I first got here, but I put that to the side and realized it’s actually fun and refreshing to meet new people and have new experiences with these different people. You get to see life from different perspectives. The best part has been a feeling of belonging and bonding through exciting times — like when my dance team got to perform on World of Dance. That was not something I ever imagined doing in high school, especially not as a freshman! We were all so nervous but we got through it together. I also get a feeling of home when I go to any shows or performances in school, because so many people come to watch and cheer together. 

What’s been the biggest challenge so far? 

Tasnim & Kayla: Time management!! 

Why is that important, and have you found ways to adjust? 

Tasnim: I guess that’s the other side of being so involved in different things — you still have all your classes and there is a lot of work, so it’s not going to be as easy as middle school when things were more predictable and your teachers set your schedule for you. What has made a big difference for me is creating good relationships with my teachers, who help me plan out my work and look at these challenges in a way that makes it seem more manageable. They are really approachable and happy when you ask for help. I also ask my older friends for tips.

Kayla: This has been the biggest challenge for me so far, because I tend to procrastinate. What I realized is that you have to invest in your work and be responsible for yourself. I’ve learned how to plan backwards from due dates so that I don’t leave everything to the last second, because you do that and then all of a sudden have an extra rehearsal called unexpectedly, and it really can mess up your grades. I really didn’t like this approach at first because I wasn’t used to it, but as I get better, I feel proud about myself because I’m making progress. I’ve always been a good student, but instead of getting frustrated when my grades were slipping, I became more determined. I set rules for myself — like turning off my phone at night when I’m doing homework so I don’t get distracted. Even small actions can help. 

Would you recommend SA HSLA to a friend? 

Tasnim: I’m enjoying my experience so far, and the classes aren’t as difficult as I was afraid they would be — even though there is a lot of work! I’m managing to have a pretty full year as a just a freshman, so it seems like my high school career is off to a good start. I think anyone making an important decision about where to go to school just needs to ask themselves what matters most to them — Is it making new friends? Is it getting into a good college? Is it challenging yourself? I personally feel you can find all these things at SA HSLA, but it’s important to explore options because these four years of our lives are important! 

Kayla: Yes, I’ve enjoyed being a freshman here so far — but I agree with Tasnim, you need to think about your own goals and style and not just follow what your friends do. Talk to people and consider different opinions, but in the end you have to decide for yourself! 

Pictured above: Kayla Christiani-Ellis (left) and Tasnim Moumouni 

What was the most unexpected challenge you faced this summer? 

I was excited to be in a new place with new classmates, but I also had to learn how to manage my time in a new way. It’s not just about getting your work done, it also figuring out how to balance fun with friends — going out to eat, playing games on campus, and going to the gym — while also making sure that you leave time for chores like laundry. We were expected to get ourselves to class and to breakfast in the dining hall each day. These things seem small, but until you’ve had to do them for yourself, they can be challenging. I found that having an organized life, even outside of schoolwork and the classroom, allowed me to have the most fun in the end because I wasn’t stressed about dropping the ball. 

This summer taught me how to connect with people who have different life experiences than myself

What was the highlight of your experience? 

My classes were pretty great. I picked philosophy and songwriting and and a social media class; I liked songwriting best, which was surprising because I didn’t expect to become so interested in that aspect of music. I think it’s exciting when you discover a new interest, so that has to be one of the best things that came out of this summer for me. I also have to say that it’s fun to think of all the friends I now have  around the world — I know someone in Hong Kong, in Germany; we all found a place in the program and connected with each other. 

One thing from this summer that will stick with you? 

This summer taught me how to connect with people who have different life experiences than myself and my friends at school. I think that’s a valuable lesson because when I go to college, I’ll be that much more comfortable in a new environment with new people. 

Amanda Sanchez, front right, with new friends from her summer experience 

All scholars who are in good standing and who meet the minimum GPA requirement — 80 percent — are encouraged to apply to SA Summer Experience; online applications for next summer are now open! The rigorous application process has been designed to mirror college admissions, including a personal statement and an interview. All admitted participants will have their application fees, program tuition, and room and board fully paid for by Success Academy!

Above: Amanda Sanchez, bottom right, enjoying ice cream with new friends 

SA Upper West scholar Miles loves to think about the world in terms of numbers and mathematical relationships. His conversation is often peppered with potential calculations that pop into his mind: How many words per minute can a speed reader achieve? What percentage of his friends participate in sports electives? Luckily, his teachers celebrate this obsession with science and math — they’re certain he’s destined to be a future scientist.

But Miles has also cultivated a wide range of interests throughout his time at Success Academy — he has been here since kindergarten — participating in theater tech and art, as well as volleyball. Full of energy and precocious observations about the world that he does not hesitate to share, Miles clearly has confidence. This year he heads to middle school more than ready for the new adventure! Before he waved goodbye to his elementary years, we had a chance to join Miles in his daily adventures in calculating, reading, and playing. You can follow along below:

7:25-7:45am

My dad and I take a city bus to school every day. It only takes about 30 seconds each block — so 15 minutes total to get to school!

I like shaking hands with my principal to show her that I’m confident. I also like coming to school because I learn something new each day. The world is infinite, so there’s a lot to learn!

7:35-8:00am

I’m part of the Class of 2031. That’s the year I’ll graduate from college. I plan to be either an astronomer or a computer scientist.

In the morning we do a few warm-up math problems to remind ourselves about mixed numbers and improper fractions. I like the challenge — I’m really good at math!

8:00–9:00am

Since we’re fourth graders, our work is getting more difficult. We read about three times the amount of texts as in third grade. We have to find similarities between the problems Henry Ford and Thomas Edison faced with their inventions. I like getting a chance to revise my work and think about how I can make it better. 

9:00–9:45am

Shared text is when we read together to learn about a new topic. Today we are reading about cars and pollution. Reading together helps kids who are a little less strong at reading get stronger, and kids who are great readers get even better. It’s all about setting goals. 

10:00–10:10am

I like to talk a lot. My mom says it’s because I’m a big thinker, so I have a lot of ideas to share. Luckily I have friends who also like to listen.  

10:10–10:50am

I’m happy when my teacher calls on me to share my mathematical strategies. I like number stories, but I prefer Math Olympiad because it’s harder. 

Kids who are in Math Olympiad are really the top of the crop. You have to answer five really complex questions. My teacher, who majored in math, runs Math Olympiad. Each year we compete to be number one. Last year that was me! 

10:50–11:50am

Today we are learning all about line plots. Our teacher really made us think about the different parts of a line plot. What’s on the horizontal axis?  Why is it important to have a title? It’s pretty interesting to see the different ways that you can show information.

11:50am –12:15pm

My school has a lot of books for us to choose from, but I still like to go to the library near my house and see what I can find. Right now I’m reading a spy series that the librarian recommended to me.

12:20–1:05pm

There are usually interesting things in the science classroom to investigate. My favorite unit was both interesting and delicious. We learned about the phases of the moon using Oreo cookies. We had to eat the frosting to show the different phases. That was a great class! 

1:05–1:55pm

I usually play the same thing at recess each day. We have these giant Imagination Playground foam blocks that you can create shields and build forts with — and I always strategize offense and defense with my friends.  

2:00–2:55pm

We have a lot of choices as fourth-graders. We get to choose two electives! Today my sports elective was also awesome — we played a game where the point is to knock the other team’s pins down. I knocked down two pins! 

3:05–3:35pm 

We read a lot at school because it’s also a great way to learn. I usually try to pair up with a friend to share interesting books — it’s even more fun when you are learning together.

3:40–3:50pm

Today my mom is picking me up. I get pretty excited to go home and talk about my day, but I have to remind myself to pack up my bag carefully so I don’t forget any homework!

Wura took advantage of HSLA’s wide variety of clubs, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to follow her passions and create her own (one of the many opportunities HSLA scholars have). Looking back on the past year, Wura reflects on her greatest challenges, joys, and the leadership skills she’s developed — as well as the teacher who pushed her to take chances.

How did you learn about the style of Afrobeat dancing?

Since the first grade, I’ve been in love with dance. I participated in SA’s dance electives, training countless hours in ballet, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. In middle school, I gained an incredible mentor: My Success Academy dance teacher Dashawn White. Ms. White pushed me to open myself up to new opportunities: to participate in competitions, record my own videos, and take professional dance classes. She eventually introduced me to the style of Afrobeat dancing. The more we danced, the more I fell in love: There was something about the joyful nature of the movements, set to a backdrop of energy-infused drum beats, that set my heart on fire. It also gave me an opportunity to celebrate my Nigerian heritage (I was born in Nigeria), and in a way, I felt more connected to my family than ever before. 

What made you decide to start the Afrobeats club at HSLA?

When I entered high school as a freshman, I thought a lot about how Ms. White had pushed me to open myself up to new experiences. She was the voice in my head, telling me to start the club. I was hesitant at first, but I wanted to do what she did for me: Share my love of Afrobeat dancing. I discussed it with some of my friends, who seemed excited, and that was all I needed. I reached out to my school’s principal and my dean, and after making sure I was in good academic standing, they jumped on board. 

What were some of the greatest challenges you faced when you started the club?

I tend to think of the club in two distinct phases: My first attempt to create the club during my first semester, and then the real Afrobeats club during the second semester. I remember being so confused about, well, everything, those first few weeks. I hadn’t the slightest idea of how to run a club: Rehearsals were inconsistent, and I felt overwhelmed by taking on the bulk of the work (I’d spend hours at night choreographing our entire show).

When we had our first show in December, more teachers than I could count congratulated me, and students of all ages approached me to ask about joining. Their support meant the world to me. Let’s do this for real, I thought. Committed to avoiding the mistakes I’d made the previous semester, I developed a plan: I selected three co-captains to help with choreography and developed an audition process for January. We took on 27 additional dancers, nearly doubling our numbers. My co-captains and I also created a rehearsal schedule, attendance policy, and clear ways to communicate with the group. I’ve learned so much since the start of this club, and I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity to develop these important leadership and organizational skills. 

What’s the best part of running the Afrobeats club?

There’s a look that dancers often get on their face — one that screams, “I’m confused” when they’re struggling with a dance move. I seek those dancers out, pull them aside, and work with them. That new look on their face when they finally get it — that “aha” moment of pure joy and understanding — is what makes this all worth it. When we all have our “aha” moments and are able to dance together, you can tangibly feel the spirit of community on the stage. To me, Success Academy’s teachers and leadership gave me the opportunity to create that spirit of community, and that’s one of the best feelings in the world.

Interested in seeing the Afrobeats club in action? Follow @SAAfroNation on Instagram! 

Wuraola Adetola (Wura) is a rising sophomore at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts. She started at Success Academy in the first grade and has been dancing with SA ever since. 

Amaris Asiedu, SA Harlem North West Middle School

“In this graduating class, I see the future lawyers, doctors, mathematicians, game developers, technicians, artists and musicians, and much more. But it will take determination, motivation, encouragement and hard work, your blood, sweat and tears, to overcome each obstacle.

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to learn new and innovative ways to accomplish your goals. Society presents people with many challenges based on the color of their skin, where they are from, the language they speak, who they love, and much more. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t let these burdens and restraints get to you and make you give up because giving up means failing yourself and millions who might not come after you.” 

Rachel Bochman, SA Midtown West Middle School 

“Eighth grade is an awesome community because we don’t have cliques. There are no popular girls saying “you can’t sit with us” or jocks beating people up in the hall. A large part of this is due to our teachers and leadership, who do an incredible job making sure we have a safe space at school. But I’d also like to give some credit to the eighth grade. Ever since we were fifth graders, I have been honored to know a group of such talented, incredible, amiable people. And I’m even more honored to be able to hang out with you all every day, whether we’re building a giant pencil tower, singing Bohemian Rhapsody in public, crying over Endgame, camping out in Nowheresville, Pennsylvania, or just being together. Not as separate circles of friends, but as one eighth grade.

I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say we’re no longer a bunch of kids forced to be in the same building. I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say we’ve laughed together, cried together, and built each other up to the point where we’re more than a grade. We’re a family.”

Destiny Dembele, SA Harlem North Central Middle School 

“As we transition from “spots on the rug” and walking in uniformed lines to creating our own steps, our time at Harlem North Central has prepared us to express our individuality and write our own story. It is our responsibility to be individuals and create a story that can be passed on and remembered by others. As we graduate today and move on to high school, I challenge you to embrace your uniqueness, your identity, the color of your skin, and use that to guide you in the decision that you make, for our world depends on a collective group of passionate individuals who can accept the realities of our past and change them in the future.”

Brianna Edwards, SA Harlem East Middle School

“We know that the transition to high school won’t be an easy one, but some of the difficulties we faced during middle school — specifically in eighth grade — have prepared us for our next challenge. If this school year has taught me anything it’s that having support and knowing what you want allows you to accomplish anything. As students of color, we have made history, and were some of the first eighth graders in New York State to take the U.S. History and Government Regents exam, which is traditionally an eleventh grade exam (shoutout Mr. Relyea and Ms. Levey). And we will continue making history as future athletes, politicians, and entertainers because if we continue to push ourselves — especially when no one is watching — in the next four years, there is no doubt in my mind that we all will achieve great things.”

Skye Flores, SA Bed-Stuy Middle School 

“We are the first 8th grade class to graduate from SA Bed-Stuy Middle School, which makes this an extra special occasion as we are the first to lead and represent BSMS. As the inaugural class we have an obligation to lead to teach our fellow scholars to keep their eyes on the prize and not to give up even in the times that they are tired. I have no words for all we have achieved and leaders we became.

“You may see this as the end but it is actually the beginning of our success.

This 8th grade class has a lot of potential and I know we could go on to do great things. We will all have the opportunity to get scholarships to top colleges and make a lot of money as long as we don’t slack off. Thank You For everything.”

Jarlyn Carreras, SA Bronx 2 Middle School  

“You all have the potential to excel in whatever area you choose to work in, as long as you apply yourself. But you can’t leave all this work to the teachers. You have to be responsible.

“Letting yourself go is a mistake, slacking at the end of the race is the worst decision you’ll make. The end of the race is the most important, because it’s the make or break, the game changer.

“So, my final words to you as a whole: Stay strong, stay steady, and stay ready, because life will keep you on your toes.”

Yanni Kalofolias, SA Harlem North West Middle School

“I would like to thank my mom and dad for pushing me forward and getting me through the year, and I hope all my peers feel the same about their families’ support, because we, as students, could not be who we are or achieve what we want to achieve without the support of our parents and families. I also want to thank all my teachers for their hard work and for always believing in us. Class of 2027, high school is going to hold challenges that, at times, might appear insurmountable, but we just have to continue trying and keep our goals in sight. I know that positive, motivated thinking can help all of us overcome any hurdles that arise. Good luck in the future, and thanks for this wonderful year!”

Isaac Pierre, SA Harlem West Middle School

“When I was younger I always wanted a superpower. I always wanted something to make me feel like a hero. But as I stand here now, I realize that my fellow graduates all share a common superpower: intelligence. It’s that intelligence that’s going to cure cancer; it’s that intelligence that is going to make the next hit album; it’s that common superpower that’s going to help me be the next Barack Obama. I am not scared of what’s to come. As I look around at my fellow graduates, I see great potential. I see them using their superpower to solve problems, overcome challenges, and leave the world a better place.”  

Johnethan Rivera, SA Bed-Stuy Middle School 

“We are just getting started on our journey to the top guys — we must “Persevere” !!

“I want to see all of us there sitting at the top !! I will miss all of you. I encourage you all to follow your dream. Never give up and whatever you do, put your Mind and as well as your Heart into it!

Fast forward to this year, Julia’s second year at SA HSLA. She just completed a 14-week dance workshop at NYU Tisch, one of the most competitive dance schools in the country. In addition to her weekly classes after school and her advanced conservatory dance elective during the day, Julia spent every Saturday in the spring practicing with current Tisch college students and some of the country’s most promising high school dancers. She and the other participants even choreographed their own original performance!

We spent some time with Julia talking about the unique Tisch experience, hearing about what dancing has come to mean to her, and discussing the sacrifices it involves — and whether they’re worth it.

How did you become an NYU Tisch Future Artist?

My dance teacher, Ms. Fastow, forwarded me the application and told me she thought it would be a great program for me to check out. I filled out the application and was invited to audition — I’m only 14, so I was one of the youngest trying out! Even though the program focuses on contemporary dance, the audition involved a lot of ballet, which is my area of expertise. I was excited when I found out that I’d been selected — and so was Ms. Fastow!

What did you find most interesting about dancing in a new setting?

It was really cool seeing what it is like to be a dancer in college. We worked a lot with current Tisch performers, which was a great learning experience from a dancing perspective but also gave me a chance to talk to them about life as a college dancer. They have a lot of different stages to practice and perform on, which is exciting, and it was pretty clear that they are serious about making every performance count. They all seemed so happy to be there, so it was really inspiring.  I’m even more convinced that I’d like to pursue dancing in college — even though my mom still wants me to be a veterinarian!

What has been the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as a young dancer?

I have classes outside of school every week, so I have to balance homework with a pretty intense training schedule. Sometimes I wish I could procrastinate, but I just can’t if I want to keep my grades strong and my dancing stronger. The Tisch program was especially challenging because I would dance for hours on Friday night and then get up early every Saturday for the workshop. I also take dance electives in school, so dancing is just something that I’m always doing. Sometimes I regret missing the chance to just hang out with friends, but over the years, I’ve come to realize how much I appreciate dancing and the discipline it takes — it’s rewarding to see the hard work pay off, but it’s also become more and more fun.

What was the best thing about your Future Artist experience?

Dance is usually very competitive. There’s not a lot of chances to work together with other dancers, so that’s what I liked the best — this program was very collaborative. We all choreographed performances in teams, which meant figuring out ways to bring our different ideas and skills together. The final performance went really well. We were all presented with a rose and a certificate!

Cover Photo: Julia Flete, in red, at the award ceremony after completing the NYU Tisch Future Artist program 

Above: Julia in the dance studio at SA HSLA