Life of a Fellow: Ananiya
Meet Nani!
Nani is our Fellow at Eastside High School in Camden, NJ. In this post, she shares her journey with one of her students— Makhia. As is the case across all of our partner schools, the relationship they built is far from one sided.
I admittedly don’t remember much from the 12 Plus Summer training. Thankfully, I keep all the important information from those two weeks in a thick binder that I carry to work daily. But, I do remember presenters discussing the reciprocal relationship that 12 Plus employees have with the students at our schools. I remember being warned not to talk at the students as if they were ignorant children that we had all the answers for, and, instead to talk with them as intelligent stakeholders in their own futures. I remember being told to be prepared to learn just as much from the students as they could possibly learn from me. And in this short year, I can confirm that my students have taught me so much. I am honored and better to be learning from such bright, experienced young people.
One of my favorite bright, experienced young people is named Makhia Goode.
Makhia Goode was my first advisee. I met her within the first couple of weeks of school, and my Site Director recognized that we clicked, so she assigned Makhia to me. Makhia was one of the first students in my cohort with a reasonable plan and a desire to get started. She had decent grades that could get her into college with some merit scholarship money. When we first met, she expressed that her dream school was Morgan State University. As her advisor, I sat with her throughout September, helped her write her essay, and apply to Morgan State and other schools.
Since September, Makhia and I have grown close. I’ve watched her grow through many situations and even situationships. I listened as she went from being hesitant to leave home, to being excited to leave home. I smiled with and for her as she happily told me about her 15+ college acceptances.
I’m sure Makhia would say that I’ve helped her with her college enrollment process. I’m sure she would say that I’ve been a trusted confidant. And I’m sure Makhia would say that my stories have given her some insight into what she can expect over the next four years. But our relationship is far from one-sided. She has taught me so much about myself, Camden students, and more than anything, Makhia has been somewhat of a mirror for me. I see so much of myself in Makhia. Like me, she is an exceptional student and a leader, who stands out from her peers and overcomes the negative circumstances of her environment. For that reason, I have so much confidence in Makhia and her ability to get to and through college.
It has been an exciting journey to watch Makhia apply to and be accepted into schools. And I was overjoyed when Makhia told me about her commitment to Morgan State University. I can’t wait to see what Makhia accomplishes next!