Marcos Echevarria (287)
Staff Writer

At Central, we’re lucky to be a part of a diverse student body in which we can find, join, or start a club/community that makes us feel comfortable and represented. Despite this, it’s not always easy to verbalize and express ourselves and our feelings. Still, we have to remember that it’s important to do so.

Due to anxiety and social pressure, some of us feel the need to “tone ourselves down” and mask ourselves to fit in, instead of expressing who we are. However, when we start to do this, we lose the sense of who we are as people. Instead, we should embrace who we are using the opportunities we have and can make at Central. Central offers clubs and communities that assist us in expressing ourselves creatively through the arts or simply through communication and group activities. These clubs include the Afrocentric (Central’s magazine that raises Black voices), the Mosaic (Central’s magazine that celebrates all cultures), our culture clubs (such as A.A.S.U (African-American Student Union), A.S.A.O (American Student of Asian Origin), and H.L.U. (Hispanos y Latinos Unidos), our LGBTQ+ club, and more.

I had the opportunity to speak with the student board of the Afrocentric: President Danay McNeill (284), Creative Director Amelia Hanes (284), Chief of Operations Tavian Dennisor (284), Marketing Manager Isa Muhammad (284), and Chief Editor Matthew Brocco (285). The Afrocentric makes an annual magazine featuring its members’ Black-focused art, stories, articles, and more, as well as submitted works from the student body.

When asked about the impact that the Afrocentric has had on them and the process of joining, Danay responded, “I joined because it was a space that was Black-focused. Being a minority in academic spaces was always difficult for me, but joining Afrocentric helped me connect with people and find my space.” The board emphasized “the need of having spaces to express yourself and feeling comfortable and safe enough in a community.” They also highlighted the importance of the true missions of these clubs: “our mission at Afrocentric is to raise and showcase Black voices. Even if you’re not a part of that culture, you learn from others and you’re able to grow as a person.”

With the resources available, it’s crucial to remember that while observing the wonderful showcases and events throughout the year is fantastic, you should always be able to push yourself out of your comfort zone and become a part of them. Therefore, I encourage you to do so and hope that you’ll explore the different opportunities Central offers to express yourself!