In high school, joining a club is one of the most highly encouraged and essential ways to get involved and build connections within the wider community. Clubs allow students to do and discuss what they love, encouraging people from differing knowledge levels and backgrounds to educate themselves. Senior Mwape Sokoni has made waves in the social fabric of the WJ community as captain of the Step Team and a highly active member of the Black Student Union.
Through her involvement in clubs that promote minorities and underrepresented communities, Sokoni has helped blend WJ’s melting pot of identities and cultures.
“When there are racist instances and instances of discrimination and harmful behavior towards minorities in our school, having clubs like BSU and Minority Scholars involved in the school’s response is going to help with reception,” Sokoni said.
Sokoni has cemented herself as a role model for students in her clubs. Junior Yibela Gebretsadik, who met Sokoni through BSU as a freshman, fondly recalls her first impression of Sokoni.
“She’d always participate in BSU discussions and was very involved in the club,” Gebretsadik said.
Sokoni has also taken extra steps throughout her club participation to make everyone feel welcome.
“We try to be fun with all our [Step Team] members, making sure nobody feels isolated. We don’t have a tryout process, so if you want to be in Step, you can be in Step. And anyone can come in and try to learn, so that’s another thing that keeps our doors open for everybody,” Sokoni said.
Sokoni’s participation and professional leadership skills have turned out to have a great positive impact on BSU and the Step Team.
“She knows when to take lead. In a group with over 40 students, she was able to lead and direct a successful [BSU] assembly,” Gebretsadik said.
Her positive attitude and undying commitment to ensuring the smooth operations of her clubs have led to an even stronger welcoming environment. Former Step Team and BSU member junior Clifford Hubbard praises Sokoni for making him feel welcomed into the Step Team.
“The way she carried out her leadership position and the way she made everyone feel welcome made me think to myself ‘I know I’m going to have an amazing time here,’” Hubbard said.
Sokoni’s impact in the club space has inspired younger members who have witnessed Sokoni’s leadership, passion and enthusiasm for participation and discussion to follow Sokoni’s example.
“As a freshman and sophomore, I looked up to her, but as a junior, I aspire to attribute some of her traits to mine. Her hardworking persona, her talented soul, her kind self; all of which I want to embody throughout my life,” Gebretsadik said.
The impact Sokoni leaves behind has also inspired others to better their leadership skills. Sophomore Abigail Freidlin admires the way Sokoni manages her clubs.
“I never feel bossed around, [I feel] guided. She leads people in the right direction,” Freidlin said.
Thanks to Sokoni’s positive example, she has also inspired others, such as Hubbard, to create their own clubs.
“I wanted to create my own dance team, and Step Team really inspired me to perform and help me grow my confidence too,” Hubbard said.
As Sokoni gears up to graduate, she has confident and strong ambitions. She feels hopeful for the future of the clubs she’s leaving behind.
“I will be most satisfied if, by the time I graduate, I know I’m leaving the [Step] Team in good hands. [And it’s] the same with BSU, and I think just being able to get it to expand and to get more people aware of it and to have more involvement and dedication is going to be the biggest thing to me,” Sokoni said.