Be Remarkable: Meet Alyssa Africa
I have become a leader who has a voice for others; I listen to them and bring their concerns to Salem’s leadership. I have found my voice and helped others find their voice.
Alyssa Africa came to Salem Academy as a boarding student her sophomore year from the Caribbean island nation of Dominica. Now in her last semester of high school, Alyssa has flourished at Salem. She’s involved in numerous extracurricular activities and has stepped up to advocate for her classmates as House Council President.
Alyssa explained that as House Council President, “my role is to facilitate communication between the students in the boarding community and the residential life staff. I pass on messages and concerns of the students, as well as help plan activities and advocate for students. In this role, I’ve learned advocacy and how to be a strong advocate for others.”
Alyssa has been on Salem Academy’s soccer team for the past three years, and she had a supporting role in the school’s spring musical. She also participates in the Black Student Union, Robotics, Student Council, Honor Cabinet, Bible Club, and STEM Club. “Salem has helped me find my interests. I found an interest in soccer and theater, and those are things I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if I were back home,” Alyssa said.
In addition to her many extracurricular activities, Alyssa enjoys volunteering at the Kaleideum science museum in downtown Winston-Salem, where she has the opportunity to explore her scientific interests and work with children. Despite her busy schedule, Alyssa has thrived academically at Salem. She admitted that math was a struggle for her when she arrived at the school, but she is now in both the math and the science honor societies.
Living in the dorm as a boarding student has been one of Alyssa’s favorite parts of her time at Salem Academy. She feels it has been a good preparation for college life and said, “As a boarding student, you get the opportunity to experience college early. You learn how to live independently by washing your own laundry, for example. In the dorm, there’s never a dull moment. You’ll always find someone in the hallway dancing or laughing. That’s the type of community you get in a dorm.”
My favorite part of Salem is my friendships, because it’s great to always have somebody to hang out with, somebody to laugh with–especially when you’re experiencing stress. That’s my favorite part of Salem; I always have a friend to talk to and rely on.
Given her passion for advocating for others, it’s not surprising that Alyssa has set her sights on a career in nursing. She had considered attending medical school and becoming a doctor, but changed her mind after completing an internship with Novant Health in the neuro ICU. She said this internship “helped me figure out what I want to do, because I got to experience what each member of staff did and nursing is what really called to me.”
Alyssa is grateful she had the opportunity to attend Salem Academy and has loved her experience as a boarding student. Her advice to new students at Salem is to “take chances and take advantage of the activities and the opportunities you’re given, because they will really enhance your experience at Salem. It’s not just the academics at Salem Academy; it’s all the experiences you get to explore.”