RHIANA BRUCE

As a student of color, I have experienced multiple racially motivated situations since I started attending Green Local Schools. When I first came to Green, it was definitely a culture shock considering my previous school was very diverse; there was an equal diversity rate among the students, so when I stepped through those doors of GIS, I was honestly intimidated. Since I was young, I didn’t pay too much attention to the fact that my skin was a different color but later on, I soon realized that my race contributed to many situations I didn’t have to be in. Experiencing seventh and eighth grade as a black girl was something that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. No one is perfect and I accept that, but it was heartbreaking to realize that just because of the color of my skin, I have to be looked at differently or get placed under stereotypes that don’t fit the person I am.

An experience that took a huge toll on me was during middle school. A boy was getting upset with me because I wouldn’t move to the back of the bus so he could sit with his friends. I repeatedly told him “no”, that I would continue to sit in the seat I chose. Unfortunately, he got upset and made remarks to me that made me feel less of a person just because I wouldn’t give up a seat on the bus. This felt like Rhiana’s version of Rosa Parks. Another experience I had was when a girl had sent me a video of her and three other girls making fun of me and making many racial remarks about the way I looked and what I wore. At this point, I started to feel that I was the reason these things were happening to me, and I just let people say whatever they wanted. It wasn't until various non-African American students continuously asked me for a pass, confessing they "say the n-word all the time because why should they not be able to say it if [black people] can'', that I realized this wasn't normal and I didn't deserve to be treated this way.

There was a period of time when standing up for myself was out of the picture. Speaking up was something that was really difficult for me to do when these situations would happen. I didn’t really know what to do, so I would silence myself. From my perspective, I was scared and I didn’t want to say something that could hurt the other person’s feelings. It's my mission to educate those who would like to learn more to lessen racism, but I've learned over time to prioritize people who are open to learning and changing, over people who choose to remain ignorant.

Per all students: freshman year was rough, but I’m glad I went through my hardships because that’s when I got introduced to the GHS club, All In. At the time, I was scared to join a club that talked about racial situations or social injustice because I didn’t want to be judged. I was also scared to talk about topics a lot of people try to hide, such as stereotypes, racists, and undercover segregation that goes on inside the school doors. At the beginning of attending the club's meetings and learning about its purpose, Mrs. Kraus, the club’s adviser, made sure that every meeting was a safe space. She makes it not only a place to feel comfortable, but a place to learn from others. I am now a proud member of All In and have been attending meetings and events for the past two years.

At the end of freshman year, more change was happening and the Diversity Committee board was created after the Black History Month “Soul Food Fest” happened. It blew up largely on social media leaving many students and parents heated. Mrs. Brown, the head of the diversity board, gathered some students together to talk and address the racial issues with this particular event and the school. Soon later, it turned into a board. Being a part of the Diversity Committee has given me the opportunity to learn how to facilitate harder conversations after attending the DEI workshop that was held earlier this year. Furthermore, the committee has given students a chance to talk with each other and staff to decide ways to mold the school into a more welcoming place. As more people have joined the committee, I can say we’ve really created a family and a support system.

My experience these past two years has been a huge learning and understanding journey. I love being a part of All In and the Diversity Committee because they teach valuable lessons through experience. I love learning new ways to view different circumstances, facilitate hard conversations, and become a leader in the right direction of creating a supportive environment among all types of backgrounds.

As a senior in high school, there have been many ups and downs throughout the years. I started my freshman year at Hoban because at Green, I surrounded myself with people who weren't a good fit for me, and I ended up getting myself into a lot of trouble. Throughout my freshman year, I thought I had made a lot of friends, but at the end of the day, they weren't who I thought they were.

That February, I decided that Hoban wasn't where I wanted to stay, so I transferred back to Green. It was difficult at first because everyone knew my previous reputation. There were many days that I didn't want to go to school because I heard things that people would say about me and I felt embarrassed. I was disappointed in myself and knew that I needed to change or the next four years of my life would be terrible. I started by surrounding myself with people