By Hebaq F., 12th grade

I’ll always remember my first day at BSU (Black Student Union).

I knew attending UPrep for my freshman year was going to be different. I would no longer be in a space where I could easily see myself in my classmates. Private school felt like a foreign concept to the 14-year-old Hebaq who had attended public school for her entire life. To adapt to being in a new space, I mistakenly thought I needed to change. Suddenly I was speaking at a higher pitch, smiling more, and changing my language choices. That first day of BSU was my breath of fresh air.

BSU was and has always been a space where I felt I could be my authentic self, without having to change and adapt for acceptance. Entering a new environment is always a very difficult process, and one of the first things we look for is a space where we belong. For me, that sense of belonging was created by Lillian, Rihan, Devin, and Hibak, who were the first upper-class students that I interacted with. It was their kindness that inspired me to eventually become one of this group’s leaders.

Over these last couple of years, BSU has been more than a club; it’s been a family. Outside of the club, BSU members acknowledge and support each other in classes and sports teams and through genuine friendships. As a younger student, when I needed help picking classes and extracurriculars, I relied on older members to help. Now, when I need college advice and an extra set of eyes on my essays/supplementals, I know I have a whole support system that I can rely on.

Belonging. While for some it’s in a space and for others among a group of people, finding a way to belong is one of the most instinctual ways that humans survive. Belonging occurs when a person is comfortable enough to let their guard down and know that they are in a state of being that allows them to be vulnerable. While some may be a part of many groups, belonging is that additional layer of safety. A person is not going to belong in every space that they are a part of, but it is important that people are willing to extend that olive branch to new people whom they encounter. While similarities may be the first way that people gravitate toward each other, genuineness, kindness, and openness are necessary to maintain that sense of belonging for people. When I look at other affinity groups at UPrep and I speak to their leaders, I feel a sense of joy. Hearing the way that these leaders speak about their goals and aspirations for their clubs and their members, I know that they are fostering a community for members in their spaces. For the members of our UPrep community who are one of few who share similar identities, I believe that affinity groups are an integral part of the UPrep experience.

As I near the end of my years here, I know that my time in affinity groups created experiences that I’ll take with me for the years to come! I will never forget how many people I had the opportunity to meet and become friends with through these groups. This year, I hope to continue contributing and doing my part so that the BSU is a space that is welcoming, fun, and comforting for Black students in our school. I want BSU to always be a space of celebration and acceptance at UPrep.

READ MORE BLOGS IN OUR STUDENT LIFE SERIES