Mohamed Semra

I was paired up with two final year students.

speech therapist students.

And I learned how to speak from the very beginning.

It was intensive course, 8 to 4 PM.

And I came back to school and I had an epiphany.

I could advocate for myself because, you know, obviously around those ages, you know, you're trying to figure out who you are.

And I had experienced many instances of racism, but I didn't have the tools I needed to really advocate for myself and advocate for others.

And so in going to speech therapy, I joined debating.

And when I looked at debating, no one looked like me in debating.

So that was another hurdle.

But I told myself, if I can overcome this hurdle of learning how to speak again, then debating isn't as difficult as I once thought it was.

And I joined debating.

Three months later, our entire debate team was now African.

My friends saw me join, they joined, and we went undefeated at our school.

And so that also showed me what leadership looks like.

Taking that step, starting that precedent, you'd never know who you're going to inspire.

And leadership starts at a macro level.

Micro level, whether it be your family, your school, your community.

And I really did see that.

And together we felt more a part of the school.