My name is Monique and I am currently an eighth grader at Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School. I’m a student who loves to broaden her knowledge both inside and outside the classroom. For example, in my free time I study dance at Elizabeth Dance Image where I practice ballet, jazz, and, occasionally, tap dancing. I am a book lover. My favorite series is Harry Potter, but my favorite book is Wonder. It’s about a boy with a facial difference who finally gets to go to school. At first his classmates don’t accept the boy, but eventually they learn he has the same interests and feelings as them. Wonder taught me that despite our differences, we should always be kind. Instead of judging each other based on first impressions or looks, we should wait to get the full picture of someone.

In this my last year of middle school I joined BEC2BAMA, a program that helps students and future leaders learn more about the Civil Rights Movement and its significance in American history. I am excited to use this opportunity to speak to and learn more about both the famous and lesser known leaders of the Black freedom struggle.

I applied to BEC2BAMA because I recognize how important it is for my generation to learn about our nation’s history. I want us to learn from our past, so we don’t mistakenly repeat the actions of those before us. While I love learning history in class, BEC2BAMA will give me the opportunity to learn about the Civil Rights Movement from those who lived it.

BEC2BAMA will help me learn more about the Civil Rights Movement from people who were there and can tell me the truth with nothing left out. I can then share this information with others who aren’t fortunate enough to have access to a more open-minded or well-funded history program. I could even pass this information onto future students as one of the main professions I would love to take on is teaching.

This is where we need your help. While sadly things are quite different this year, we are hoping to make BEC2BAMA as fun as possible with all resources available. Maybe we’ll even be able to get a trip in, but safety is of course our first priority. No donation is too small. Anything you can give helps us achieve our final goal.