By Yannet Daniel

I have had the privilege of helping lead the two clubs that, in my opinion, are two of the most important and influential clubs at Cary Academy–Reedy Creek ESL Tutoring and the African American Affinity Group (AAAG). Rachel Maydew (’16), Sneha Advani (’16), Claire Goray (’16), and I help with the logistical duties of the tutoring program, but all of the tutors contribute to the most impactful part – building relationships with the students. Every Tuesday and Thursday, CA students dedicate an hour of their afternoon to tutoring the students of Reedy Creek Elementary. Part of what makes the program so great is the one-on-one tutoring experience in which the children get the attention they need for their homework and also get a close high school friend. This is why club membership is so important–so that every student can have a tutor and every student can have a high school buddy! For me, the best part of the program is the chance to learn about different cultures and know that friendships can always cross between them! I have tutored the same first-grader for the whole year, but in just the first few months, he taught me a song in Arabic. Sometimes, I think that we can get so caught up in the purpose of teaching English to the ESL students that they can lose pride in their native culture. With this in mind, I would also encourage my student by reminding him how cool it is to know Arabic. After four years of tutoring, I can say that it is an amazing experience and I encourage others to take part in it!

AAAG has helped me become a more aware individual and the person I am today. It isn’t easy being the only African American girl in my grade and being the only one in many of my classes. AAAG has provided a safe space where I am not the only one and where members can share their thought freely on issues that pertain to African Americans. With many racial issues in recent years and even months, the existence of AAAG has become even more crucial. This year, I have helped lead the club with Tylor Moore (’16) and Ziyana Greene (’18). With several events over the year from special outings to a bake sale to just regular meetings, AAAG has grown closer as a family while still discussing racial issues that affect our community. Let’s just hope that AAAG stays lit.