Defining Courage with Sarah DeSouza (XXXIV)
"Courage means choosing to take responsibility to make our generation’s voices heard, not simply letting others speak for us. We must act upon what we see."
Sarah DeSouza (XXXIV/St. Luke's '14, Packer '18, Columbia) was a lead organizer of the 2018 student walkouts to protest gun violence at Brooklyn Borough Hall. In response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, she and fellow Packer Collegiate Institute students brought together over 2,000 youth and educators across the borough to advocate for change and commonsense gun laws. Sarah spoke to Prep about her experience.
Packer has been transitioning into approaching issues in our society head-on by creating spaces where students could have tough conversations about issues they are passionate about. I remember a collective of students convening directly after the events of Parkland, and we created and sent a banner to Parkland for when the students returned to school. But I couldn’t just send a banner and have that be it. I felt a hunger to do more, and make my voice heard rather than let others do the talking for me. So when another group of students started planning a walkout, it just naturally became something I wanted to help organize, rather than just participate in.
I don’t really think of myself as being courageous for doing what I did. The Parkland students that banded together so quickly to try to make a difference were the true sign of courage. Their act of protest was more than enough to show me I had nothing to fear. I guess my individual act of courage was standing up to bigotry and showing that we aren’t just the generation of iPhones and social media. We are the generation with access, the generation of self-education. We act upon what we know and see; we know we have a sense responsibility to make that choice.
Courage means preparing yourself for a world that wasn’t necessarily built to help you succeed, and rebuking that notion. I want to live in a world that doesn’t allow its children to be killed in its schools, a world where black children don’t get killed in its streets, a world where a Christine Blasey Ford is fully believed and not scrutinized for being sexually assaulted by a Supreme Court Justice Nominee. If I want that world to exist, then I must first learn about it so I can change it for myself.
One of my favorite Prep memories is singing during Commencement. Growing up, I had a big personality but was shy in terms of public speaking and performance. One of the first times I broke away from that was during Commencement, when I sang a Michael Jackson song with a few kids in my contingent! It was the first time I sang in public, in front of a crowd. I just remember it as one of those pinnacle moments that really helped boost my confidence.
Ms. Nikole Smith was a great influence on me. She showed me that black women have the capability to be leaders, that I could be more than society has outlined for me. She exuded confidence and elegance, and she showed me that I could be all those things too. Mr. Jeffrey Roth taught with a sense of humor I vividly remember, and he taught me I didn’t have to be serious all the time to be taken seriously.
I am excited about taking classes at Columbia that I didn’t get the chance to explore in high school. And I plan to major in Political Science!
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What led you to emerge as an organizer of the National School Walkout at Brooklyn Borough Hall as opposed to simply participating?
Packer has been transitioning into approaching issues in our society head-on by creating spaces where students could have tough conversations about issues they are passionate about. I remember a collective of students convening directly after the events of Parkland, and we created and sent a banner to Parkland for when the students returned to school. But I couldn’t just send a banner and have that be it. I felt a hunger to do more, and make my voice heard rather than let others do the talking for me. So when another group of students started planning a walkout, it just naturally became something I wanted to help organize, rather than just participate in.
The walkout generated a lot of local and national press, with some calling the students courageous for planning the protests and speaking out. What are your thoughts?
I don’t really think of myself as being courageous for doing what I did. The Parkland students that banded together so quickly to try to make a difference were the true sign of courage. Their act of protest was more than enough to show me I had nothing to fear. I guess my individual act of courage was standing up to bigotry and showing that we aren’t just the generation of iPhones and social media. We are the generation with access, the generation of self-education. We act upon what we know and see; we know we have a sense responsibility to make that choice.
How would you define courage as it applies to your pursuits in education or life goals in general?
Courage means preparing yourself for a world that wasn’t necessarily built to help you succeed, and rebuking that notion. I want to live in a world that doesn’t allow its children to be killed in its schools, a world where black children don’t get killed in its streets, a world where a Christine Blasey Ford is fully believed and not scrutinized for being sexually assaulted by a Supreme Court Justice Nominee. If I want that world to exist, then I must first learn about it so I can change it for myself.
An independent school education opens a lot of doors for personal growth and creating lasting memories. Can you share some of your favorites with us?
One of my favorite Packer memories would definitely have to be my European history class with Mr. George Snook. There are a select few classes throughout my life that I will forever cherish: those where I have shifted my way of thinking and enabled me to use that knowledge in everyday life. After taking that class, I can confidently say both of those things hold true. Special shout out also to Ms. Sandra Fahy and her Modern Middle East class during my last semester at Packer!
Tell us about a part of your Prep journey that took you out of your comfort zone or helped build your foundation as a scholar.
One of my favorite Prep memories is singing during Commencement. Growing up, I had a big personality but was shy in terms of public speaking and performance. One of the first times I broke away from that was during Commencement, when I sang a Michael Jackson song with a few kids in my contingent! It was the first time I sang in public, in front of a crowd. I just remember it as one of those pinnacle moments that really helped boost my confidence.
Did any Prep faculty or staff have a significant influence on your life?
Ms. Nikole Smith was a great influence on me. She showed me that black women have the capability to be leaders, that I could be more than society has outlined for me. She exuded confidence and elegance, and she showed me that I could be all those things too. Mr. Jeffrey Roth taught with a sense of humor I vividly remember, and he taught me I didn’t have to be serious all the time to be taken seriously.
This year you started a new journey, enrolling at Columbia University. What are you looking forward to the most?
I am excited about taking classes at Columbia that I didn’t get the chance to explore in high school. And I plan to major in Political Science!
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