Keep Fighting

By Kayô Smith-Souza
Ninth Grade Class President

This year has been a whirlwind of emotions, but at the end of the day I'm glad to be here. I have some words of advice to the next generation of ninth-graders, but this really applies to everyone who stays here as well.

If it's worth fighting for, keep fighting for it.

Every single day is a new battle, for some, these battles will be easier than for others. But learning to rapidly adapt to anything is the most important thing to know. As Kendrick Lamar wrote, “The world is a ghetto with big guns and picket lines.” To me, this means that you can either attack a challenge or resist by sharing your voice when you don’t agree with something. Challenges will come at you from every direction possible, and you don't need to know how to best them as soon as they fly at you. You need to know how to conquer the situation and make it a victory.

And to those departing. I have more abstract words for you. You can run from life but at some point you're gonna need to stop and find out what it wants. And to faculty. Thank you for making me a new man. One who knows how to adapt, negotiate, make the most from what I have been given and learn from mistakes. Thank you, Foote!