The six scholars at Guilford ABC are developing their minds and personalities this year at Guilford High School. In a recent interview, they described interesting class assignments and stimulating extra-curricular activities. They also reflected on changes that were personal challenges.
Jasmine Laryea, a senior, said that in her International Baccalaureate (I.B.) classes she has enjoyed “exploring theories that also take place in real time; how cultures interact; and the biological and chemical aspects of love.” She especially enjoyed the interactive debate project.
“I.B. forces you to be a student,” Jasmine explained. “You learn how to learn, and that’s good because you’re always learning,” she said. “It made me learn how I like to learn – and that’s visually.”
Jasmine is a dancer and performed in the spring musical, “Legally Blonde.” She’s been dancing since the fourth grade and said “it was so much fun learning different numbers.” The most challenging aspect of her senior year has been time management, with all the work of college applications, academics, and the higher-level expectations of the I.B. course. She liked exploring resources and the collaborative process.
Irene Opoku-Gyamfi, a freshman, loved the assignment that accompanied study of Beowulf, the old English epic poem – “we created our own fable.” She also enjoyed acting out scenes from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In art class, she learned how to make a macrame friendship bracelet.
Irene attended GHS’s first multi-culture festival. Her face lit up with smiles as she recalled experiencing different cultures – “the belly-dancing from the Middle East, the Indian dancers, too.” She’s also joined the fencing team.
High school has been a challenge for Irene. “It’s really different from middle school – I had to learn how to study and prepare for tests.” She reflected on how she “learned to make friends and be herself, speak out and adapt.”
Tamojah Tomlinson, a sophomore, became very interested in civics this year – “how Guilford and our national governments work.” She participated in a mock election in class and learned how to vote. She also practiced being a journalist, asking questions in mock interviews with the mock candidates.
“We made videos of our interviews, and they were both funny and embarrassing. We learned about setting, too. We did one interview in the cafeteria, and it was too loud,” she explained.
The 2023 fall play, a collection of Shakespeare comedy scenes, found her working with props again. “I learned how to work with the whole crew – it was a very large group this time. You need to know your part because there was a lot more to do this time. I also learned more about time management,” Tamojah said.
Andrea Kaluma, a senior, just had an exciting experience as a singer. She auditioned for a solo, was chosen, and performed singing “Over the Rainbow” at the GHS “Meals on Wheels” benefit concert in February. Andrea performs with the Voices ensemble and loves having many opportunities to sing. “It’s really fun,” she enthused.
Andrea has a passion for reading. “I just love to cozy up and read a good book.” She wrote her college essay on her love of books. She’s currently into Jane Austen – “all of them!” Her ABC “sister” Janelle, who graduated last year, sent her a collection. Andrea said she began to love reading early in her life, cuddling up with her dad in their library at home. “He’s continually learning, and reads all the time,” she said. She began with picture books and grew up with reading Dickens (Oliver Twist is a favorite), Fitzgerald, Oscar Wilde and many modern writers. “Literature is so welcoming to women – with open arms!” she exclaimed.
Andrea praised the help she received from the College Matters team. “They helped me organize my thoughts and develop my list of potential colleges to attend. I was very happy working with them.”
Reflecting on her growth over the years at GABC, Andrea feels especially grateful for the experience traveling in Morocco last summer. “It was my first time traveling by myself in taxis, on trains in cities. I learned to be independent, to navigate the world for a month. I adjusted to a new way of life. These experiences helped me to become a leader in the GABC house – to be an example of maturity for the younger girls. I can help them by being a resource, helping them make friends and feel stable. Coming here, away from home, is hard. But it teaches you lessons in growing up.”
Kyra Amani, a sophomore, has enjoyed studying topics such as the Peace Corps and the United Nations. Examining the positives and negatives helped her understand how organizations can have internal problems yet still be successful. She was excited to participate in the high school’s Model U.N. during the spring semester.
Kyra secured the role as understudy for one of the characters in the spring musical, Legally Blonde. She enjoyed learning her lines and rehearsing each day after school. “It was more intense than last year. You have to be more accountable since it’s a large cast,” she said.
This second year of high school, Kyra said she was focusing “a lot more” on classes and reducing the number of extra-curricular activities. “School is the main thing,” she affirmed. Still, developing a new People of Color club is important to her. She helped to organize, follow the rules for clubs, and finished with creating an informational poster to draw students in.
Jazhira Douglas, a freshman, has the perfect nickname: Jazzy. Her deep interest this year is in studying the history of imperialism. “I didn’t even know the definition,” she said, but she has found intriguing how imperialism happened in different countries throughout history and in the modern world.
She’s enjoying soccer, a first sport that helped her make new friends. But the sport of fencing has enthralled her. “Everyone is so welcoming. I’m learning different styles, different rules, and better techniques for your target area. You use the same body parts, but differently. The uniform and the mask protect us.”
This first year of high school Jazzy admits that “classes are challenging, especially math and English. But she says she’s learning more, even though “it can be exhausting.”
In addition to their academic classes and their extra-curricular activities, each of the Guilford ABC scholars have assigned “chores” as part of the “family” at the house. They often volunteer at the Hole in the Wall retail/consignment shop that helps support the maintenance of the dwelling that provides a welcoming home away from home.