What it feels like to be nominated for Posse…
My life, my dream, my journey into a successful future—that’s what it feels like. Some people might say, “Well, you’re just nominated, you haven’t won yet.” Well, for me it feels like I’m already on top! The thought of someone else out there other than myself seeing me as a high achiever gives me the feeling that I am a 1st place winner. Being a leader at SC-YEA (South Central Youth Empowered through Action) and stepping up to be heard has brought me so many awards.
SCYEA's Posse Nominees (from top to bottom: Jesus, Merne, Ameryah, Shenekah, Jasmine, Bria and Patty).
Knowing that I have an open opportunity to go to a college where I can experience new things and excel gives me hope and desires to keep striving.
When I got the call that I was nominated and asked if I was interested, I felt like screaming! My GPA isn’t as high as it should be, all my classes aren’t all complete but throughout that I have been recognized for my leadership: “Greatest feeling in the world!”
At 12 p.m., two other students and I got picked up from Manual Arts High School and met with the rest of our nominated scholars. We went out to eat at 29th Street Café before we headed for our interview near USC. Everyone shared how they felt and what they expected. The SC-YEA staff gave us a lot of encouragement and support throughout our wait.
Reaching the Children’s Bureau wasn’t the hard part, but seeing how many students were nominated and attended was. Approximately 200 was the amount of students fighting for the same scholarship (we were the ONLY African American students there, so it gives me encouragement). Only 80 would go home receiving a bright new future.
After everyone was situated, we began with a lecture of the competition and split into groups of different races. We were tested on our leadership skills and how well we worked with others.
Competing was fun, but nerve-racking when people with little notebooks are walking around looking at what you’re doing. It was about four different challenges and groups we had to face. At the end we received a bag full of information on all eight colleges and felt relieved to go home. [Posse Los Angeles is partnered with eight colleges/universities nationwide that guarantee admission to scholarship recipients. Those schools include: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Grinnell College, Bucknell University, Dickinson College, Kalamazoo College, Tulane University, University of Wisconsin-Madison].
In about two weeks I will receive a phone call on whether I made it to the second round or not. I am not afraid if I don’t receive a call but more thankful for the opportunity. I never had to compete for anything before and this event has opened up another phase in my life that I can triumph.
Giving up is not an option right now for me and I plan to go to college no matter what with encouragement from SC-YEA I am equipped to win this thing! 
Written by Shenekah Cayetano, senior at Manual Arts High School.
Posted by CoCoSouthLA 
