VAPA offers many opportunities for students to take initiative and be leaders, when it comes to making school a better place. All students are mentored into becoming the best version of themselves. Besides guidance, VAPA also offers support.
Raven Bealy is an exemplary 16 year old black female student at VAPA, who took the initiative on representing and educating Legacy students on “Black History Month” and “Black Lives Matter”. She coordinated the Black History Month Freedom Assembly at VAPA, because she felt it was not being acknowledged enough nor has she ever seen it emphasized like other ethnicities at VAPA throughout the 3 years she has attended. “My culture should be celebrated also,” says Raven.
Raven is very passionate about her culture and wants to educate others on it.
Raven states that she experienced bullying about her racial nature, but did not let that discourage her . Raven explained that “Mean people are going to be mean people, and they're always going to find a way to make fun of it no matter what, and doing this [Black History Month] assembly shows that I embrace my culture!”
Many believe that now more than ever all minorities need to come together as one, because we are all
being picked on and the best we can do is help each other.
Ms. Spencer, a chemistry teacher at Legacy VAPA, has started a Black Student Union” where Raven is a proud member. They both have worked very hard to make this assembly as strong, educative, and fun for the youth by inviting dancers, artists, and poets to perform and educate for students.
Raven Bealy’s message to the young is , “You’re important. Your life matters no matter what. No matter how you’re feeling. No matter what president is in office like, you’re important, your life matters, regardless, like, you should embrace who you are. Don't be ashamed of that just because somebody else is unhappy with it. If you’re an immigrant embrace that. Wherever you’re from--your culture--embrace that, because the people who are here now are also immigrants they just don't acknowledge it, but, I feel like, *pause* just love yourself, don't trip off a nothing like, *giggles* just be you. Love you. Love your culture. Embrace that, be who you are.”