Naima Dickerson, a woman of many wonders, is leaving Buena High School after four remarkable and memorable years. Through community service, organizing events for the Associated Student Body (ASB), creating and editing articles for Buena Speaks and dancing through halftime shows while on the Buena cheer team, she has been booked and busy.
Dickerson lived in Seattle, Washington for the first seven years of her life, then moved
to the beachy Ventura, California, with her parents and younger brother junior Lucas Dickerson. Buena could not have been luckier to have her and will miss all that she does for the school.
“My experience [at Buena] has taught me that the people you surround yourself with, the teachers that support you, the mentors that you have, are a crucial foundation to your success,” Dickerson said.
Any active student at Buena knows that Dickerson has been a very well known contributor on campus. On top of being the current ASB President and Editor-in -Chief (EIC) for Buena Speaks, she was also varsity cheer captain this past season. All of these positions require extra time, care and commitment that Dickerson was more than willing to give. Her drive along with the encouragement of her closest friends and peers made all of the work possible.
“I was Naima’s teacher for two years,” English teacher Antoinette Perez said. “She [is absolutely] a role-model, an exemplary student in the classroom, [and] a true team leader. She exemplifies what it means to be a hard working student.”
Through everything she has accomplished in high school, from being an active wellness peer leader to the vice president of key club, it is clear that Dickerson does as much as possible to give back to, and support the community, but there have always been strong supports to her as well.
“[My parents] have always told me to keep going and not care what people think,” Dickerson said. “They have helped me take opportunities that I [previously] thought I would not be able to handle, like Editor-in-Chief, [but] they cheered me on and [pushed me to try].”
Dickerson would never look back now, reflecting on how the EIC position made her more aware of “the responsibility of a journalist.” She learned about the media and is especially grateful to have somewhere where she can speak her voice and have it displayed to the world through her writing. Her number one fans that have shown her support from her very first article are her closest friends.
“They have helped me stay grounded and have [made my] years fun and joyful,” Dickerson said. “A lot of their influence is what has defined me. It has helped me grow, not only as a person and a friend but as someone who wants to pursue more things in the future.”
Dickerson will continue school at Ventura College, studying political science. After one or two years, she hopes to transfer to a four-year university.
”[Political science] is something I have always been interested in. I want to work in public service or essentially any field where I can help people,” Dickerson said.
She has dedicated so much of her life to Buena, but she still manages to keep her life outside of school full of fun activities and hobbies. Most commonly, she loves to practice photography and videography of each and every waking moment in her life.
“I love any form of photography and videography,” Dickerson said. “I like recording wherever I go and making little vlogs I can look back on.”
Not only does she enjoy photography, Dickerson also finds herself with a desire to travel.
“I went to Europe for the first time last year, and now I’m [on a] travel high. I find myself always wanting to go somewhere new everyday,” Dickerson said.
Although her Buena years are ending, she was given an opportunity to reflect back one more time onto her freshman self and give advice that not only she would’ve liked to hear, but everyone else should take in as well.
“I would tell [ freshman me] to not take things as seriously as she did all four years,” Dickerson said. “A lot of what I did was too college focused. I would tell her to enjoy it a little bit more and don’t take anything personally when it comes to failure or changes in plans. Just have fun.”
With this end, it creates vast opportunities for Dickerson’s bold, compassionate and optimistic personality to be shown continuously throughout her work. Perez, with tears in her eyes , gave important advice for Dickerson, wanting her to know that she will be able to accomplish great things, as she already has for her four years at Buena.
“I want [Dickerson] to remember to always be herself and not listen to those around her who may make her doubt herself. I want her to feel confident in all she does, and it’s okay to ask for help and seek guidance,” Perez said. “She’s on the right path and [Dickerson] is going to be successful no matter what she does because of her big heart, her brains and everything she has [contributed].”
As the weeks are narrowing down, may we all thank, congratulate and say farewell to Naima Dickerson for setting the standard example for future Buena classes.
