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My name is Yayla Blodgett-White, and I am a proud and connected alumna of Buffalo Prep. I am a dual-major junior at Syracuse University and am on track to graduate early. I have been provided a full scholarship, a spot in the Reneé Crown Honors Program, and an opportunity to study abroad. So much of who I am today mirrors the values gained from my experiences at Buffalo Prep, and I often reflect on how Buffalo Prep has played a role in my success.
In seventh grade, my guidance counselor approached me about a program known as Buffalo Prep. I was completely unaware this was an accelerated high school preparatory program for students of color – the kind of program my mom prayed for to break the cycle she feared I was doomed to be a part of. I was confused but excited because, for the first time, I was around my people. I finally felt at home. Being surrounded by peers who spoke like me and came from similar backgrounds was comforting and allowed me to regain the sense of security I had lost for so many years. Not only did I feel secure in the fact that I had a network of individuals devoted to seeing me succeed, but also in that I had a family to catch me when I fell. Buffalo Prep gave me the confidence to apply for things I never thought I was worthy of, guided me to pursue my passions, and helped me embrace the brilliance I always had inside of me.
I obtained my work ethic through the High School Prep program. It was tough balancing two educational environments at once; I committed 14 months of evenings, weekends, and summers to rigorous academic enrichment at Buffalo Prep on top of attending my regular school. This program was a little fun, a little play, and a lot of hard work. We talked about topics pertaining to minorities and why they were important; we got to read books like To Kill a Mockingbird and have unfiltered discussions that delved into the deeper messages hidden between the lines. I was challenged academically for the first time, and I am so grateful.
Buffalo Prep never lets their students go too far astray, as they are continuously reaching out to be a mechanism of aid. When I was struggling financially in my first year of college, Buffalo Prep reached out to me, offering a full-time teaching assistant position over the summer. They made sure to let me know they never forgot me and that I was still very much part of the Prep family. I have had the delightful experience of working with Buffalo Prep these last two summers; I have watched this program unfold with changing times, and I am able to continue uplifting our future generations.
I hope you will join me in supporting the Preppies who are following in my footsteps by donating today.
