I AM SKS: Shayla Lawrence

BY SARAH FULTON ’09

Meet Shayla Lawrence ‘21. Shayla is best-known by her peers for her excellent grades, her leadership, her talents as an actress and singer, and her involvement in Student Government, National Honor Society (NHS), Black Student Union (BSU), and many other committees. In a recent interview with On the Mountain, Shayla told us about her journey at SKS, her future aspirations in the field of Psychology, and how she has come to embody the School’s core values and everything that is Storm King.

Q: What is your background? How did you decide to come to SKS?

SL: Both sides of my family are Jamaican, so I grew up with a very large and loud family who support me through it all. Through that support, my parents recognized potential in me that was not being challenged at my previous school. That’s why they made the decision to send me to Storm King. The catch is I didn’t find out I was going to SKS until a week after the school year had already started! I was hesitant and anxious about being able to fit in here and the first week I attended I didn’t speak or engage in class until I discovered what a homey and accepting environment I was surrounded by. Soon enough I settled in, made friends, developed relationships with teachers, and began joining extracurricular activities. Now, I love it here!

Q: What challenges have you faced/ what has your experience at SKS so far been like?

SL: Growing up I was always taught what it meant to be a Black woman in America. Until Storm King, I had always attended predominantly white schools where I had always struggled with finding my identity as a Black female and balancing the in-depth teachings I was getting at home about my Black heritage as opposed to the strict, close-minded, and racist beliefs I learned at school. Coming to Storm King completely changed that. I was welcomed by an open-minded, accepting environment that gave me room to explore my identity and use my voice to communicate my truth. Of course, Storm King definitely has room for improvement when it comes to being vocal about racial inequality and understanding the Black voice, but the fact that I have the space and feel comfortable enough to even address these concerns is an experience that would have been completely unknown to me if I hadn’t come to Storm King.

Q: Why did you decide to join the BSU? What do you hope to accomplish? What other activities/leadership positions have you been a part of at SKS?

SL: I initially joined the BSU last year as a junior in order to become a part of the conversation to promote change and bring attention to racial inequality within my community. At the beginning I will admit I was a bit shy and quiet, but I think a big turning point for me was performing at the annual Black History performance. The feeling of knowing I might have implemented change within a person in the audience really sparked something in me that made me want to work harder as an advocate for the Black experience and Black voice. Now that I am one of the co-presidents of the organization, I feel like I am in my element.

As one of the most active clubs on campus, what we hope to accomplish is to bring attention to racial injustice, help educate others about Black culture and Black excellence, and to condemn any form of racism within our community. Our goal is always to educate, inform, and inspire! Along with the BSU, I am also Student Council/Body President and President of the National Honor Society, as well as a part of many sub-committees under those two groups. Within those organizations I try my best to keep the School united through various activities and student-led programs. I am grateful to be so involved and act as a voice, not only for the Black community on campus, but the student body as a whole. I have also been on the volleyball team since sophomore year and am a part of the musical theater program at Storm King. This year, I am actually playing the lead in the musical Godspell, so I am super excited!

Q: What are your goals for the future? Where do you think you’ll be?

SL: To be honest, I am not sure what the future holds for me. I have many things that I am passionate about, and one of those passions includes mental health. As I quickly approach the beginning of my college experience, right now, I can picture myself studying Psychology and pursuing a career as a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in mental health. Like I said before, I do have many passions. I love to sing, I love being an advocate for social justice, I love literature, I love working with kids, so hopefully, I can experience a little bit of everything!

Q: What would say looking back at your time at SKS?

SL: Looking back at my time at SKS, I can definitely say that the experiences I had here helped me grow tremendously as a person. The relationships I made with teachers, my leadership involvement in school activities/organizations, and most importantly the friendships I made here all aided me in my own personal growth. As a new SKS sophomore, I wouldn’t have been able to imagine the person I have become; the person I am today. Now, I am someone who makes speeches at allschool meetings in front of the whole student body; someone who acts and sings on stage in front of an audience; someone who is constantly surrounded by a supportive community who pushes her to do her best; and someone who has finally gained confidence in herself. I can never thank Storm King enough for that–for helping me grow. It’s going to be hard to leave that all behind.

Shayla at dress rehearsal for the School's 2020 spring performance of Chicago