By Kennedy Fridia, Tribal Youth
I have recently graduated from Mahpiya Luta Owayawa on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I, along with 26 others, were able to walk across the stage and receive my diploma. This was a big moment for not only me, but for my community. Many kids from the reservation do not make it to high school, let alone graduation. Often, they end their educational journey at the eighth-grade level. I felt so lucky to have been able to complete this milestone, but I didn’t do it alone. My family, friends, teachers, and sheer determination helped me get to where I am today.
Some days I had to wake up at 4 am to get to morning basketball shooting, then a full day of school, and then stayed late until 7 for practice. This, coupled with AP and college courses, at times felt like a lot, but like our buffalo relatives I put my head down and faced the storm. Encouragement and lots of rest on the weekends enabled me to continue excelling in everything that I did. I ended my senior year being awarded Athlete of the Year and The Presidential Award for Academic Excellence, among many other accomplishments, including a full academic ride to the University of Denver.
While I know statistically this is not the norm for youth across Indian country, I hope to be an example for others. There are a few things that made the difference. Having a circle of support and encouragement was one of them. Another, a strong connection to my spirituality and culture. Lastly, the ability to believe in my own potential. For those working with youth just remember my peers are dealing with a lot and they need you to walk alongside them towards high school graduation.
