Q & A With A'Jia Williams. Nottingham Class of 2021

Q & A with A'jia reese. Nottingham class of 2021

Raquan Pride-Green | raquanspg@therisemedia.net

A’jia Reese is a 17-year-old high school senior who lives on the south side of Syracuse, NY. She currently attends Nottingham high school after transferring from Bishop Ludden High School for her senior year. A’jia transferred from Bishop Ludden to Nottingham because she could no longer deal with the things that were happening there. Some of the teachers had very negative opinions on public schools and city schools, they would say that those schools just passed students along and that there were more minorities there, and that the kids were animals that should be chained. When A’jia would ask where they got their information? They would tell her that they have worked in public schools. She would also ask if they ever tried talking to those students to see what they might be dealing with because the schools might be their only outlets to be heard, there is a lot that happens with students prior to going to school. She was disappointed that they would say those things about those students in a classroom that had majority white students with only one or two black students because there are majority black students in the city district. There were racists remarks made during my three years at Ludden and I just couldn’t take it anymore. During A’jia’s freshman year, someone had wrote the word “nigger” on a locker in the P.E. locker room. Her mom went to the school to talk to the administration and other staff members. She called the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Syracuse to notify them as well. Her mom called local media outlets and shared a video of the obscenity written on the locker. She was disappointed that the local media outlets did not pick up the story. A’jia eventually left Bishop Ludden along with some other students. A’jia is a former cheerleader who has aspirations of running track during her senior year; she may not get the opportunity to run track due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A’jia currently works part time at a clothing store in the Destiny USA Mall. She has two older sisters who have graduated from SCSD schools as well as both of her parents.

Q. What's it like being a senior during a pandemic?

A. It is difficult because I am not an online student. It’s hard for me to self-motivate, stay on track, keep up with work because I start to procrastinate and get side tracked. I’ll tell myself that I’m going to do something but then I tell myself that I have time so I put it off and the work starts to pile up and pile up and pile up, so it’s been hard for me. I would rather be in school so I tried to do hybrid learning but now you have to get tested so I went back to doing school online. The teachers try to make it seem like we’re in class but we’re not, they’ll give us work time but during that work time I will just be sitting there or do something else. I need in person instruction in order for me to stay focused and do what I am supposed to do. Once the work piles up I know that I have no choice but to get my work done. My teachers will also mention that they will call my mother if I don’t get it together. My teachers work with me by having me do the more meaningful assignments first and they don’t deduct as many points as they normally would for late assignments.

Q. What do u miss most about school prior to COVID-19?

A. I miss going to school in person, being able to socialize with my friends, being able to walk around versus just sitting in my room all day staring at a screen. I can be a lazy person so the remote set up does not help, I miss being able to get up and get dressed even though I hated waking up at 6:30 in the morning, but it was something to look forward to everyday.

Q. What are you happy to see removed from your day-to-day schedule due to COVID-19?

A. I am happy that I don’t have to wake up at 6:30 in the morning to be at school by 7:45am because my classes starts at 9am and I only have four classes.

Q. What’s next after graduation? (What colleges have you applied to and why?)

A. I want to go to school for Nursing, I am going to apply to Crouse’s Nursing program and St. Joseph’s Nursing program because I don’t want to take classes that I don’t need. I want to work towards the job that I want to do. I am hoping that I am not too late because I have been procrastinating. My goal to become a traveling nurse so that I can help care for people all over the world. My mom is a nurse and that plays a big part in my decision to become a nurse too.

Q. If you could get a do-over for your senior year under ideal circumstances would you take it?

A. I would take the opportunity to do it over because I would be able to be in school, stay focused, and I wouldn’t procrastinate because when I’m in school I get my work done. Whether at school or home it would get done and turned in the next day.

Q. Has COVID-19 changed your views on life, if so, how?

A. It made me more appreciative of everything that I have because there are people who are really struggling. Some people don’t have the necessary means to live anymore or access to food to feed their children or the transportation they need to get to and from work. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things that’s been happening and I am really grateful for everything that I have.

Q.What is the biggest lesson you learned this year?

A. I learned that I could do something that I love while doing the things that I have to do. I started a business, A’Jia’s Raj, which makes body butters and scrubs while in quarantine back in March. I was inspired by a conversation with my mom about the different chemicals and other harmful products that are in the lotions that we use daily. My mom started purchasing the products that I would need to get my new small business to take off. I everything I use in the body butters and scrubs are 100% natural and does wonders for our skin. I also make specialized body butters and scrubs for people who may have specific skincare needs. Follow A’jia’s Raj on Facebook and Instagram or call 3154188946 for your skincare needs.

Q. What did you learn about yourself this year?

A. I have low energy sometimes and if it goes unchecked, I can become lazy and that is not good for my career choice. I will be fine at work because I thrive when I’m engaged and when there is structure. I have learned to be more willing to talk to people and engage others because it keeps me engaged. You have to talk to people to make money, and I want to make money. I can’t be a great nurse if I don’t talk to my patients.

Q. Who/What are you most thankful for?

A. I am thankful for my immediate family, my mom, grandparents, and godparents. I am thankful for them being in my life and all of the memories. I am also thankful for my sisters and my brothers. I am just thankful for all that I have.

Q. How do you think the prom and graduation should be structured?

A. I better not get an invite to a prom that is virtual, don’t do it! As for graduation, we can build our own stage and maintain 6ft of distance. I don’t want to do anything virtual because it defeats the purpose.

Q. What will you remember most about your senior year?

A. COVID!

Final Statement.

I just hope that COVID is over soon, everyone thought that 2020 was going to be amazing but 2020 just snatched everybody’s wig off and told us we’re not doing anything, shutdown, it’s over because everything is virtual.