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Boss Scholars
By Justina Opoku-Ware
Kwaku Agyemang
What do you have to say about the stigma surrounding your
community in regards to race and success (certain races
are categorized as unsuccessful from the very beginning)?
BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE
Kwaku Agyei Agyemang was born and raised in Rexdale. His
parents are from the West African country of Ghana. He is
attending North Albion C.I. and is part of various activities in
the community such as Trust 15 Men of Distinction, Albion
Neighborhood Services, and initiatives to help improve the
quality of the community he lives in. Kwaku is also part of a
dance group, as well as a member of the Rexdale Raiders minor
football league. Over the course of his educational history, he
has received many awards and achievements such as:
· Student Council President grade 7
· Student Council President grade 8
· Dance Award grade 8
· Pride Award grade 8
· Volunteer Award grade 8
· Citizenship Award grade 9
· Leadership Award grade 9
· Michael Frish Award grade 10
· Honor Roll grade 10
· Highest Mark Communication Technology grade 10
· Camp leader grade 11
· Student Council Treasure
2013-2014
He currently has a part-time job as an afterschool program
leader and is excelling in school in hopes of getting a scholarship
and gaining admission into a good university.
What kind of obstacles did you encounter growing up in your
community?
Growing up in the community I live, there were some obstacles
I encountered in the sense of being an “at risk youth.” Many
people think just because you come from a certain community
means you have to have a tough time growing up. Luckily for
me I had well educated parents who mentored me and were
there for me. That kind of support was what kept me from
giving in to gangs or doing drugs.
How have you overcome these obstacles?
Simple, I stayed in school; I chose not to affiliate myself with
certain people. Surprisingly that’s where most of my issues
came from; I wouldn’t hang out with “people I’m supposed to
hangout with” and the people I wanted to affiliate myself with
tried to distance [themselves] from me because they thought
I was just another at risk youth. As a result, I didn’t have a
‘particular’ group of friends, I had acquaintances. This didn’t
bother me that much, it allowed me to develop relationships
with more people.
That’s the problem in our communities; many people
are focusing on all the negative material, but refuse to
acknowledge the efforts made by hardworking people to
better the community for its citizens. Many people will blame
the individuals displaying the negative behaviour from the
community, and to some extent that is true. But we can’t hide
from the fact that the media does play an unfair game by saying
things like “ANOTHER shooting at (such and such) place.”
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years from
now?
I see myself in University studying business and Dramatic arts
and becoming a successful actor incorporated with business.
What advice would you give to youth growing up in
communities that are considered as “at risk”?
I am going to keep it short and sweet with two common phrases,
“stay in school” and “stay out of trouble.”
Christina Alexis
Watson-Williams
Christina Alexis Watson-Williams is a young female from
Rexdale. Even though there are many stereotypes in place in
her community, at her young age, Christina has managed to
overcome several of them, and continues to conquer more. She
is currently one of a handful of students in the gifted program
at her school. She is also a member of Toronto’s young up and
coming dance group, Broken Silence, and placed as runner up
in a beauty pageant. Boss was able to get a few minutes from
Christina’s busy schedule to ask her a few questions.
What do you like about school?
I like math, and writing stories. I also like recess. I love school so
much that I wish I could be there all day.
What is your favourite subject?
My favourite subject is art.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I grow up I want to be in fashion and modeling so I can go
all around the world and be a celebrity.
f one of your friends told you, “school is hard,” what would
you say to them?
Yes school is hard, but you need to be in school so you can learn
how to read and write and become smart. School is a good
thing and everyone needs to go to school.
Do you know someone who
is excelling academically?
Boss Magazine is looking for
nominationsfor our Scholar
feature to be profiled in our next
issue! Send a brief paragraph
about why the nominee should be
selected to: bossmag01@gmail.com
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE
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