Age: 18

School: Simmons College, Boston, MA

I was born in NYC at Beth Israel Medical Center. For seven days, I had no name. My mother was committed to not saying my name until my naming ceremony, which took place the following week at sunrise. My middle names mean “beautiful” in Arabic, and “born on Monday” in Twi, a language of Ghana.

I identify with what the Trey Whitfield Foundation stands for, in that everyone should have equal access to the opportunities that will bring them success in life. I was able to find academic success by being a scholar through A Better Chance, a program that helps talented, minority students from underserved communities apply to independent schools. I am grateful that I had the privilege to be a boarding student at Dublin School. Living in New Hampshire has allowed me to observe many of the cultural differences that shape me and my fellow students and examine how they fuel the political discussions we hear today.

Last year I founded the Social Awareness Alliance club, to open several dialogues on discrimination, gender bias and race relations on campus. The club’s goal is to create a collective voice for students who want to come together despite their differences, backgrounds and opinions, and find common goals to better serve the interests of humanity. I feel that in order to create a better world for future generations, you have to start with the littlest ones and give them the inspiration that they can do anything they set their mind to regardless of where they come from. That’s why my major will be Early Childhood Education. My kindergarten teacher made a huge impact on me and I want to be able to give the same positive and nurturing energy to a young child and hopefully inspire a future leader or two.