February is designated as Black History Month and the Greeley West Student Council is again celebrating the month-long event.  West Word is partnering with STUCO to create a series spotlighting students from each grade level sharing West students’ stories.  

Juniors are up next, these students are found to have embraced their culture and be representatives for their class today. 

Daymeon Harris is someone who not only looks up to many different African American figures, but also his brother. “I think Kendrick Lamar is someone who represents this current moment, but personally, my brother is also someone who I look up to because of his experiences,” Harris stated. 

Being true to oneself is something Harris believes in and is something that he would want to tell his younger self to do from earlier on. “I would say to embrace my culture and not try to be someone else,” Harris said. 

Xavier Blackwell is someone who appreciates diversity, especially when it comes to interacting with others. “It’s good to have people interacting with each other and also relating to one another,” Blackwell said. 

When someone is looking for advice to deepen their understanding of culture, Blackwell would tell them, “Read into things people aren’t aware of, look into the stuff people don’t talk about or don’t get as much light shed on it.” 

Simone Biles is someone Blackwell looks up to today because of her story. “Simone Biles is great, especially because of her story. She’s a good role model who people should look up to,” Blackwell stated. 

Nadia Adams has shined in her leadership skills over the past three years, but she looks up to Kendrick Lamar when it comes to leadership. “He’s in with the younger crowd but also does older statements about history,” Adams stated. 

Accomplishments and achievements are something that Adams sees as important in regards to black history. “Accomplishments and achievements are important throughout all times in black history in America. What’s also important is recognizing how far we’ve come but also how much more we can be doing in order to educate others,” Adams stated.

Honnette Ishimwe looks up to her mom as her role model. “She does a lot for me, she’s very caring and is always there to support me,” Ishimwe stated.

Ishimwe reflected on advice she would give her younger self and what she would say is,  “you’re still learning and growing.”