For students of color at Uni, reflecting on their experiences reveals the programs, spaces, and communities that help them feel represented in a school where they are often part of the minority.
A common theme that emerged in these interviews was highlighting the different aspects that make Uni a representative space. Students spoke about this culturally, in terms of representation in school spaces. As well as emotionally, with students feeling that the Uni experience has brought them an emergence of growth throughout their years.
Isabella Sanchez Wilson, a sophomore who has attended Uni since subbie year, highlighted the different clubs and programs offered by Uni High.
“When I came to Uni, it was something I was worried about since like, in elementary school and middle school I was in the dual language program, so like, there was nothing here, so I was kind of scared. But like, there’s a lot of like programs here and like different clubs and stuff that do help a lot with representation. Like the dual language program and like pathbreakers.”
The dual language program is a program that allows students to practice their native language or language that they speak fluently, outside of a class setting.
In an email, Braedan Mcduffie, a subbie, stated that he feels represented at Uni, and wrote that his Uni experience has so far been entertaining.
Chloe Noronha-Hostler, a senior who has attended Uni since subbie year, highlighted Uni’s population of Brazilian students, leaving her with a feeling of representation.
“I feel like, when I think of like, representation at Uni, I think of it more like in comparison to other places I’ve been, and Uni is like, the place I’ve been that’s had, like, the biggest population of other Brazilian students. I’ve especially like, seen that through the dual language program and stuff like that. You know, the sense of community there and stuff, and we do like, a bunch of things together, and like, I also, we get to do, like, Agora week, and we have a class together for like Brazilian cooking… . But overall, like I mostly feel represented.”
Lastly, Robenas Tadesse, a junior who has attended Uni since subbie year, has described his experience as eye opening, highlighting his growth as a student at Uni High.
“I think I feel pretty represented, I feel like there’s a good effort to like, represent, you know, different heritage, like African heritage. Um, I don’t go to LBC, but I know that exists. … and I think that’s a really, you know, just a good way because there’s…the people I’m talking about… There’s not a lot of black people at Uni, and I think it’s really nice to at least have like a space for that.”
“I would describe my Uni experience as eye opening, just because I feel like I’ve learned so much here, and I’ve just, not just, like, academically, just, like, socially, emotionally. … I think, I don’t know, I don’t know if it’s specifically at Uni, but I could just be growing up, but I feel very changed in general.”
