My name is Anari. I am 14 years old and in the eighth grade at Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School, which I have been in since fifth grade. I really like it here because I have a lot of friends here that help me out, and I get a great education. My mom’s side of the family is from Trinidad, but I was born in America. I learn new things from my grandma these days. She taught me how to cook at the age of 7. I try to be a nice person and leader by always being there for my friends to talk to. For example, I have a younger brother, and I help pick him up from school. In my free time, I like to read books, including the Bible, and study because I want to go to a great high school. When I grow up, I want to be a dentist, but I also love dancing. Right now, I’m in a majorette group and want to keep dancing in high school and beyond. Another fun fact about me is that I like to travel. For example, this summer, I loved going to Trinidad and summer camp. 

Two of my heroes are Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks because these wonderful women stood up for us Black people. If it wasn’t for Harriet Tubman, we would still be enslaved. Without Rosa Parks, we would still be at the back of the bus. This fall, I joined BK2BAMA, which is a program that teaches students about the Civil Rights Movement and Black history. This April, we are going to travel to Alabama and Georgia to learn more about American history. I am most excited to visit the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery because she’s my hero. I also can’t wait to visit three HBCUs too because soon I’ll be in college!