Celebrating Student Success

A conversation with Natajha Graham, a first generation college student, a veteran CAW Youth Apprentice, and an advocate for college access for all.

Born in New York City, a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Natajha Graham is the first member of her family to go to college. We first first met her as a junior at A. Phillip Randolph Campus High School, where she was working as a Youth Leader with College Access: Research and Action (CARA), a nonprofit that addresses the gap in post-secondary guidance faced by first-generation college students in New York City. Along with other Youth Leaders and APRCHS students, Natajha painted the murals inside and outside the Student Success Center as part of a Creative Art Works public art youth employment program. Last summer, she returned to CAW as a Youth Apprentice with our Social Justice Remote Employment program. She is currently studying biology at Spelman, an historically black college for women in Atlanta. We sat down to talk to Natajha about college access, her work with CAW, social justice, and her hopes for the future.

You were a Youth Apprentice with Creative Art Works this past summer in our Social Justice Poster Program, and you won a superlative award for best communicator. Tell us about your experience with CAW. It was something new that I wanted to try and it was totally different than what I expected. It was great learning about my strengths and weaknesses and discovering a love of photography. But mostly, I loved working with a lot of new friends. Our art had a lot of personal meaning behind it and it was surprising to hear other students telling so many stories about their art.

*Social Justice Poster by Natajah Graham*

You created two digital posters last summer. One of them features a photo of your little brother looking up at the camera in a state of pure childhood bliss. Could you talk about that poster?
Both of my posters are a response to the BLM movement. When I look at that photo of my little brother, I can’t help thinking what it’s going to be like for him growing up to be a black man in this world. He doesn't really understand the world yet, but as a black kid, you lose your innocence fast. There’s going to be a time when he experiences something that he won’t understand. I want people to look at this little kid and realize why he is deserving of a better future.

Where are you going to college?
I'm at Spelman College in Atlanta, and I'm really loving where I'm at. I didn't apply to schools like Princeton or Harvard, even though I think my grades were good enough to get in, because I didn't feel like those schools fit my personality. I wanted something that was more diverse. Spelman is a Historically Black College. I love the unity among the women in my school and among students from HBCUs overall.

*Social Justice Poster by Natajha Graham*

What do you think would happen if the student body at American colleges reflected the diversity of America?
If more people of color went to college, I feel like the world would start to realize the potential that we have. A lot of Americans see us the way the President does – like thugs. But if more of us were able to go to college, I feel like they would realize we are not as different as they want us to be. We have a lot to say and we do have a lot of power.

What do you see yourself doing once you finish college? I want to be a radiologist. My major does change a lot, but I've stuck with this one the longest. I really like the job, but there might be something in the future that I see and want more than being a radiologist, so it might change. And I want to continue my work helping other students get into college.

*Natajha at the Student Success Center at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School in 2018*

In 2018, while you were a junior at APRCHS, you participated in a CAW Youth Employment program painting murals outside and inside the Student Success Center. How was your experience? It was a really good experience, because I'd never done any type of painting before that. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out what images to include that might influence other students to want to have a post-secondary plan after graduation. Also, people who pass the mural will come inside, and then want to know more about the Student Success Center. It was eye-catching, and it made people feel good just knowing that somebody cared enough to get their attention and to invite them in.

You connected with CAW through your work as a Youth Leader with College Access: Research and Action. What does CARA do?
At APRCHS, we have one college counselor for about 1,400 students, so she couldn't help everyone. As CARA Youth Leaders, we are students helping other students. When other students see their peers talking about going to college, it’s hard not to think, "Okay. What are my plans for college?" When your peers are constantly saying, "I went to the Student Success Center and I got some literature," or, "I got help with my college applications,” it makes people want to know, "Okay. How could I get help?” or “How can I help others do the same?" Now, even my friends from other schools are trying to increase awareness of college access, even if it's not with CARA.

Natajha on the Eldridge & Co. on CUNY TV. — *Natajha on the* Eldridge & Co. *on CUNY TV.*

In an interview with Ronnie Eldridge on CUNY TV you said that you always knew you were going to go to college, but you didn’t know how complicated it can be to navigate the application process. Did you have an idea of where you might want to go?
My parents would hear the name of a good college on TV or the news, and they would say “You're smart enough to get into Princeton or Harvard so you should apply there.” It was a name thing with them.

How does CARA reach out to people like you, people who know they want to go to college, but aren't really sure how to navigate the application process?
We did a lot of in-class drop-ins where we would talk to a class for an entire period. We would go to the lunch room and the library and just start talking with some students. We reached out through social media. We made a lot of posters. We organized lots of college trips and made sure people saw schools that are in-state and out of state. We took trips to Philly and schools upstate just to let students know they have options. A. Phillip Randolph Campus High School shares a campus with City College, and yet a lot of APRCHS students have never even been inside a CUNY building.

How would you describe yourself in a couple of sentences?
I've grown a lot through the struggles of my family. I see what they've done to come to this country, so I want to become something bigger and better for them, but for myself as well. I want to be a role model for my siblings. Even though this world can be cruel, their struggles don't define them, but they can influence what path you follow in life. I want them to know that even one person can make a difference.