Sydney was first drawn to the community at Higher Achievement. “I was interested in the program because it would enable me to have a more established sense of community outside of school,” she remembers.
Higher Achievement soon became a place of support for Sydney, both academically and personally. “I lost my father around the time I started Higher Achievement,” shares Sydney. “I had a hard time processing grief. The things I usually did to help myself feel better, like reading, weren’t working.” At Higher Achievement, Sydney began to take a poetry seminar where her instructors encouraged her to express her emotions through writing. “They helped me to see that it was okay to be sad and creative at the same time.”
This encouragement led Sydney to a memorable moment when she presented her final poem at the Warner Theater during Higher Achievement’s Love Out Loud showcase. “I’m very grateful for the opportunities Higher Achievement has provided me,” says Sydney. “It’s so cool to say I’ve done something at the Kennedy Center or the Warner Theater.”
Experiences like the poetry showcase and other organization-wide events allowed Sydney to build camaraderie with scholars throughout the city and develop a healthy sense of competition. “I liked the sense of mentorship at Higher Achievement. It wasn’t just about school guidance, but also life guidance. They were there to teach you math, but also that you can be creative, pursue things you are interested in, and build emotional intelligence.”
As she approached high school, Sydney found that the academic support from staff and mentors at Higher Achievement helped her keep up with her work and prepare for tests. The small group format meant that she could get help without hesitation. “I didn’t have to worry about interrupting a class if I had a question,” says Sydney.
When she received her acceptance to the highly competitive School Without Walls, Sydney remembers her excitement and disbelief. “’Are you sure this is my letter? This is for me?’ It was just surreal. Surreal.”
Even today, Sydney applies some of the skills she learned at Higher Achievement. “The learning environment at Higher Achievement was not just memorizing, but active involvement,” says Sydney. “It introduced me to diverse learning methods—like the difference in kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning.” These approaches have helped her choose study techniques that foster a deeper understanding of new subjects.
Reflecting on her middle school years, Sydney especially values how Higher Achievement helped her develop a strong sense of identity. “Early on, I learned what it means to be Black in America, and I internalized a lot of what I heard,” says Sydney. “At Higher Achievement, I was able to have a different perspective and be more open minded. I learned not to fit myself or others into the constraints of what society has told me.” This shift in perspective shaped Sydney’s worldview, encouraging her to see limitless possibilities in herself and others.
At Higher Achievement, scholars like Sydney are encouraged to develop positive racial identity, and to recognize the innate talents they hold and contribute to their families, schools, and communities.
Now a young adult, Sydney continues to feel the support of the Higher Achievement community. “I was worried that in my adulthood, I wouldn’t be seen as the person with unlimited potential, or that I would be seen as someone not living up to standards. Higher Achievement still makes me feel loved and cared for as a person, not for the accolades I’ve earned.”
Through the guidance, support, and lifelong lessons she gained at Higher Achievement, Sydney has embraced her unique strengths and possesses a greater sense of self—empowered to continue making a difference in her community and beyond.