In the era of Black Girl Magic, Heritage High School Senior Desiree Younger is certainly among the list of majestic magicians making bold and confident moves for a better future for herself and for her community. Desiree’s wisdom, intellect and community involvement initially was dormant under the proverbial radar, but Dennis Coan, Future Center director, picked up on Desiree’s accomplishments when she applied for the Commonwealth scholarship through Lynchburg Beacon of Hope.
She was one of five scholarship recipients. Fifty students applied. Coan said they were blown away by her “multi-dimensional attributes and ways that she has left imprints in this community through theater, through athletics and through her academics.” Desiree also was president of an organization called Lynchburg Students Rise, a student-led and run organization that encourages students to speak up against and about social injustice issues. The organization was established to join forces with the Black Lives Matter movement. Lynchburg Students Rise takes the fight for justice a bit further than equality, taking a stance against bullying and fairness among the student and teacher population at the school and within the community.
“It provides Desiree the ability to serve different micro-communities with a well-rounded macro perspective,” Coan said in the nomination letter to the ColorsVa Scholars selection committee. “Once she got on my radar, I realized this young lady qualified for so many more opportunities for her exemplary performance,” he said. “Desiree has been an active part of the Heritage High and greater Lynchburg community through all four years of high school.” He said “her leadership in school and recreation league athletics, the Pioneer Theater program and volunteering at her church, is extraordinary.” Additionally, Desiree “is an outstanding student who willingly tackles rigorous courses head on.”
The University of Virginia also is impressed with Desiree. UVA presented her a full four-year scholarship to major in biology and pre-med. She aspires to be a pediatrician – a dream she’s held since she was four. “I have wanted to be a pediatrician even before I knew what it was called. I told my mom I wanted to be a kids’ doctor,” said Desiree. Actually she’s getting some real-life experience in medicine. Desiree is the health caretaker for her father who is on dialysis. “She has stepped in, not because she had to, but because she wanted to,” said her mother Temika Younger. “Desiree takes care of her father with pride and grace. She went through the training to qualify to be his caretaker. Desiree sets his schedule and even tells him what he should and should not be doing. She is amazing.”
Desiree said, “It’s important for me to take care of my dad because a lot of people don’t have a dad in their lives, so I’m just giving back what he gives me. I think about all the good times and this is my way of helping him. My father took care of me for many years, so I’m taking care of him now. He always loves me and he’s my father and I love him a bunch. I’m honored to do it. He needs me and I have always needed him. He’s always very supportive of me.”
Desiree’s enthusiasm for life sparks excitement and enthusiasm in others. She’s motivated to uplift and encourage everyone. “I tell people to choose happiness. That’s what I tell myself as well. We should all choose to be happy no matter where you are and what you’re doing,” she said. And for a 17-year-old, Desiree is pretty self-aware – and needless to say – she’s also very reflective. Desiree’s life experiences taught and prepared her well for who she is today and who she’s becoming. “I wouldn’t change anything because the experiences I’ve had have made me who I am today and I’m very happy with who I am. I’ve come so far from what I’ve been through from when I was little to now. I feel like if anything changed, I might not be the person I am today, so I wouldn’t change anything,” she said.
Desiree’s caring and loving nature permeates wherever she is and in whatever she does – in the classroom, on the courts and on the stage. She’s a varsity volleyball player and a thespian at Heritage High School. She’s part of the school’s drama productions, something she said she loves. “While I don’t plan to continue volleyball in college, I will minor in theater. I absolutely love theater,” she said. Desiree has excelled all four years at Heritage High School. She was accepted into the Early College Program for 11th and 12th graders and now she’s second in her graduating class at Heritage with a 4.4 grade point average. She’s an award-winning poet having received accolades for many, including “Educated Black Girl.” She also has written a few plays.
Desiree also participates and volunteers regularly at her church, Family Life Christian Church. There she helps the youth and brings poetry to the congregation. This fall Desiree heads to UVA to expand her knowledge, care and love to those on campus, she said, for her steps have been ordered and ordained by the Lord above.
AMEN!
Desiree Younger, congratulations! YOU are ColorsVA magazine’s Scholar of the Month.
Tags: Black Girl Magic, scholar of the month
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