Honey Bee Vision

My topic ideas have been all over the place. I wanted to focus on something I’ve both experienced and feel passionate about. I realized that my graduate assistantship space, ALLIED, has created an impactful environment for the students and for me as well.

What’s ALLIED?

The Advanced Learning and Leadership Initiative for Educational Diversity (ALLIED) is a space where students meet once a week to enjoy a free lunch, connect with one another, and share a safe environment where they can express themselves emotionally and be their authentic selves. Each week, RIC staff members join us to share their educational journeys and describe their roles at RIC.

We also have a mascot, a bee! Just like in Youth Development, we do a “buzz in.” The story behind the bee is especially meaningful: bees have small wings that, according to science, should make it impossible for them to fly — yet they do. The bee represents the spirit of ALLIED — perseverance, community, and the power to rise beyond expectations.

I have narrowed it down to two questions: 

1. What would an ALLIED-inspired space look and feel like in an urban high school, a space where students can belong, lead, and express who they truly are?

2. How can an ALLIED-inspired space be created in an urban high school to give students a sense of belonging, help them grow as leaders, and allow them to show up as their full, authentic selves?

Imagine having a space where students can emotionally open up and check in with themselves and others. In class, I’ve mentioned that I work in a high school,  one that is, unfortunately, systemically broken. Sadly, so many negative events have occurred, yet the Woonsocket community has not taken meaningful action until the following school year. Students often share that there isn’t a space where they can sit in community, feel safe, and decompress. Although there is a wellness room, it is poorly advertised and rarely utilized by students.

My vision is to bring ALLIED to Woonsocket High School, incorporating it during the school day — whether during lunch or advisory periods. Students could enjoy lunch or snacks while engaging in meaningful conversations and activities. We could invite guests such as guidance counselors, teachers, principals, and other school staff or community partners to share their educational journeys and the roles they play within the school. I would love for this to take place in the Wellness Room or in the small room near the cafeteria, as both are easily accessible and welcoming spaces. I believe this initiative would have a powerful impact on students, just as it has for college students.

My vision for this would be kinda cool, creating a digital vision board. Not only a vision board, but also conduct interviews. I would like to interview current ALLIED students and recent graduating ones, and I would like to interview my current high school students and recent graduate students. I do want to represent my vision through art. I am not an artistic person; however, I like to visualize ideas through art.