by Jeffrey Stanley
The Upper School was pleased at the news in February that senior John Vielot received an early admission to the University of Pennsylvania. He's thrilled to know he'll be moving to Philadelphia this fall. "That’s the Quaker hometown so I guess it’s only fitting," said the Student Senate President. "I want to major in either Economics or Business Management." He also has an interest in architecture which he plans to explore while at UPenn. This semester he was also named a semi-finalist in the New York Times College Scholarship Program. "I was actually a part of the final 20," said John, "however because of the recession they had to cut the scholarship to 12 recipients." The loss is a disappointment but he's taking it in stride. He'll also be interning at JP Morgan & Chase's investment banking division this summer, and he was just accepted into the Goldman Sachs Scholars Program.
John entered BFS in sixth grade and has always been in the thick of things at the school. As Senate President he oversees the students' social events at the school and helps build school spirit as well as serve as a student liaison to the faculty. "I’m not sure if the faculty have been generous or if the Senate’s hard work is paying off," he said modestly, "but we have essentially accomplished all of the goals we have set." Those goals included establishing committees to evaluate the school's honor code and student handbook, organizing the first Upper School dance thrown in years, arranging an ice skating field trip, and planning Spirit Week.
Along with fellow senior and Student Senate Vice President Sherika Campbell he's also active in the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, part of the NAIS-sponsored People of Color Conference (POCC), an annual event for people of color to explore their experiences at independent schools. The most recent conference in December, 2008 was held in New Orleans. "This was definitely one of the most rewarding opportunities I’ve been granted at BFS," said John.
As a third-year participant he was able to attend the advanced level workshops aimed at equipping student leaders to address diversity issues within their own schools. He credits the conference with providing lasting personal and professional bonds with other students and faculty nationwide. "I was specifically moved by this year’s conference because Sidney Poitier was the opening speaker and shared some of the most inspirational words I’ve ever heard," he said.
Sherika, who entered BFS in seventh grade, has been accepted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill."I'm pretty excited," she said. "The large community of about 3900 freshman alone is a bit overwhelming but I feel ready to take that next step into the college realm." She'll be interning this summer in the Bariatrics unit at Brooklyn Hospital.
She explained that the student component of the POCC grew out of the need for students to also have access to diversity discussions and a nationwide support network. "The conference was really trying to stress the importance of bringing back diversity work to your school community," she said.
The BFS delegation also joined in relief work through Habitat Humanity in the city's now-infamous lower 9th ward. "Working hard, hand in hand with my peers, teachers and complete strangers towards the same goal was awe-inspiring," said John. "This was something I always wanted to participate in as a community service project and the conference allowed me to do so." He plans to return to New Orleans to volunteer again in the future. "Although its been years since the hurricane a lot of work is still to be done."
At BFS Sherika and John applied their experiences at the conference to the Upper School Student Diversity Club and the schoolwide Diversity Committee. "The committee has about 15 participants and the main goal is to seek the best ways to live up to our school’s mission statement by celebrating diversity," he explained, "incorporating it into the curriculum and spreading awareness."
John and Sherika have advised the committee on issues pertaining to student punishment, school activities, and options for how the school can continue to grow. As peer facilitators they also lead confidential conversations in small groups with the Upper School student body, serving as mentors and role models for younger students. "Peer facilitators create safe spaces for the individuals in their group," John said. "They are to be completely unbiased and are encouraged to not push their own opinions."
"We help move the conversation along," said Sherika, "but we more or less refrain from giving too much of our own opinions."
The Senate also organizes the Upper School's annual Day of Concern in which classes are canceled to allow for student-led conversations on a variety of school and social topics. "These days are for the students only and they concentrate on our community," explained John. Last year’s event was focused on Diversity. He and Sherika split the Upper School into workshops and developed questions to guide conversations.
Students also watched a documentary about racism in the South and invited the filmmakers in as guest speakers. "I believe that this was well-received from my peers because many have come up to me and spoken about how it has helped them in their time here," said John. "We cannot preach about being an open-minded and diverse school if we can't have those conversations that push our comfort zones."
"Due in part to the student response, this year we came back with two Days of Concern," added Sherika. "The clubs Students Celebrating Diversity and El Club Latino will sponsor one day. Students Celebrating Diversity and the Gay-Straight Alliance will lead the second day."
In addition to spearheading diversity issues in the Upper School, Sherika and John donate blood during the school's blood drives,and Sherika volunteered this year at the Franklin H. Williams African Diaspora Caribbean Cultural Center where she helped organize cultural events for the public including art exhibits and the Latin Music Awards.
John interned with Ibrahem Hasan, the CEO of a children's startup clothing company called Moka88, helping design, conceptualize and distribute t-shirts, sneakers and bags. Portions of the sales benefit United Cerebral Palsy.
Sherika and John credit much of their collaborative success with their own friendship. "Sherika and I have trained a strong set of upperclassmen to be peer facilitators for the student body," John said. "We are inseparable and I believe we make the best team. She challenges me to be a better person, leader, writer, listener, public speaker and friend."
Sherika agreed. "I think our friendship makes it easier for us to work together. John is very organized and efficient. He almost always has everything under control. I know I can depend on him."
What role do their presumed Quaker values play in their tireless efforts on behalf of the Upper School student body? "They instill the importance of each individual and how we have a collective responsibility to each other," said Sherika.
"Quaker values are based upon community and respect," said John. "I have come to use it in everyday life—at home, when I work at my part-time job after school, and anywhere else."