exploring VOICE

exploringVOICE

Even speaking up for yourself can be hard, but Promis Gimeskel tapped into her ability to speak up for others. by lexi rogers

ull-time student. Part-time employee.

Youth council board member. Devout and involved church member. Community center treasurer. Student Diversity

Leadership Conference attendee and workshop facilitator. Outspoken Ethiopian-American.

Leader. In December of 2019, Promis Gimeskel ‘20 learned and grew surrounded by young leaders wwlike herself at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC). Gimeskel and six other students went to Seattle, Washington to learn about equity and inclusion and how to support efforts to create learning environments respectful of all. Though Gimeskel–according to school counselor Ms. Tonya Dedeaux who mentored her since Middle School–had long been a student who encouraged others to be the best versions of themselves, SDLC was a catalyst for her organizing efforts. Ms. Jennifer Knox, Director of Character Education and Ron M. Brill Chair of Ethical Leadership and SDLC chaperone, saw the impact the SDLC experience had on Promis. “When I dropped her off in the morning and picked her up in the afternoon, she was almost an entirely different human being,” Ms. Knox said. “When I picked her up, she was walking differently, and she was alive. This was true for all six of our students, but Promis is someone who buzzes with intensity when she’s excited about things.” Before attending SDLC, Gimeskel spoke on a Black Student Union panel discussion about the use of the “n-word.” She used her opportunity to speak to share the discomfort of other students when teachers read the word in teaching. At the conference, she consciously worked to expand her natural empathy and compassion. “In my eyes, my role was to learn new insight about things I wasn’t aware of,” Gimeskel said. “[I learned] about the broad spectrum of gender and how to go about situations when I’m unsure about something.” Gimeskel also picked up useful skills that could be applied to the many leadership positions she holds. “I learned how to be more vulnerable, even if that makes me look vulnerable,” Gimeskel said. “I also learned how to sympathize with people, even though I haven’t been through the same thing as them.” After a transformative and validating experience at SDLC, Gimeskel and the rest of the students who attended returned to school and led an impactful activity about core identifiers for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI). The committee consisted of teachers from all grades and various administrators. “[The activity] really helped attendees examine our own identities but also those of our co-workers,” Dr. Elizabeth Burbridge, DEI member, said. “We could see how many variations and how much diversity of experience exists at Woodward in certain categories but also how much work is needed so that we see diversity celebrated across all core identities.” Gimeskel continued her community building work outside of school. She served on the Community Service Board for the United Orthodox Tewahedo Youth organization and as the youth treasurer for the Tigray Community Center. There, she spent time with other kids whose parents immigrated from Tigray in Ethiopia. “[The center] is where we get to know each other,” Gimeskel said. “They teach us about where we’re from and give us academic opportunities like tutoring sessions.” As treasurer for the center, Gimeskel applied for grants and fundraised to obtain the financial support needed to provide activities. She also served as a board member at her church. “I’m one of the people who helps the kids by organizing Sunday school and figuring out what gospel songs they’re going to sing,” Gimeskel said. While maintaining all of her leadership positions and taking advantage of opportunities like SDLC, Gimeskel helped customers at her job at Publix and supported her fellow War Eagles as a manager for the varsity boys basketball team. In the next chapter of her life, Gimeskel planned to attend the University of Pittsburgh as a pre-law major. “I will miss Promis next year but know that she will be following the path that she needs to fully embrace who she can be,” Dr. Burbridge wrote in her college recommendation for Promis. “If that is a Supreme Court Justice, well, I’m going to say I called it.”