For My Strong Sisters

This semester and last semester, I had the humbling opportunity to mentor a group of high school girls from Decatur High School. The program, and also an on-campus club at Agnes, Strong Sisters, was first established to help support teen mothers in high school. Now, and almost twenty years later, the program aims to aid at-promise minority girls with enrichment sessions (for example, talking about current news issues related to their life, check-ins with how they are feeling, etc.), and after-school tutorials, that they may not receive outside of the classroom. As both semesters passed, I realized how important it was to have such a program for these girls. And of course, I grew to love each girl I came to know.

For the end-of-the-year banquet, I wrote this poem as my closing remarks.

For My Strong Sisters

Every Thursday morning

We leave our campus

Around 10:35, or sometimes 10:40

We walk about two minutes

To the high school down the street

A group young of girls, we hope to meet

I think it’s important to realize

How smart, confident, bright, and

Oh-so funny they are

Reminiscing from my high school experience,

I know it may be hard to be in a space

Where you may feel out of place

But, I want each of you to know

That you are capable of great things

No matter how long the road

Whether it be passing your class,

Trying out for a sport,

Or even attempting it all and coming up short

Know that you are in control

And you have the ability to direct your path

And that your failures are not always bad

You’re not a bad student

Because of your bad grade or

Because you were suspended for several days

You are kind, you are smart, you are respectful

And you can take on the world

As long as you’ve had your snack girl!

So for my girls at Decatur High School

This is the beginning of your end,

The end in which you girls

Turn into bold young women.

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