April 2025, Part Two

Chapter 5: Navigating as a Student

A photo of a school hallway in black and white. Photo by Sin on Unsplash

April 2025, Part Two:

Below is an excerpt from Chapter 5: Navigating Politics as a Student. I’ve had the opportunity to engage with leaders in Ghana and beyond this past year, which has deepened my understanding of all aspects of education, specifically how context impacts an experience. I wanted to bring that perspective into this book. I had an opportunity to interview a student from England and Kenya alongside a student from Texas for this chapter. An excerpt is below…I would love to hear your thoughts or feedback in the comments!

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Standing Strong – Female Athletes and Their Fight for Equity in High School

In three vastly different corners of the world—Southwest London, rural Kenya, and suburban Texas—three young women navigated high school not only as students but as athletes, advocates, and emerging leaders. Their experiences reveal how sports became a platform for resistance, growth, and the pursuit of justice.

Allison, who attended an international school in the UK, experienced gender-based inequality in how sports were assigned to students. While boys were offered exciting, competitive activities, girls were left with minimal options. “The girls would get all the rubbish sports, and the boys would have all the good sports. We were doing yoga and the boys were doing basketball,” she explained. Frustrated by the clear disparity, Allison and her classmates didn’t stay silent. “We created a petition,” she said, “most girls at the school came together to demand change. It took time, about a year,” she noted but with the support of a committed sports teacher who pushed it, the administration eventually added more sports options for girls. The petition led to a shift: more sports were rotated into the girls’ schedule, creating a more balanced experience.

When asked what advice she would give to others facing similar challenges, Allison emphasized the power of collective action. “Just get a group of people together that believe the same thing and try to get your opinion across to someone who can fix it.”

Across the globe in Western Kenya, Beth found that sports gave her something else- freedom. Coming from a public school where resources were limited and class sizes ballooned to “70 even more than that,” sports offered her an escape from restrictive norms and a chance to connect with others. “Going for games was this opportunity for me to go and explore outside,” she said.

Beth’s courage extended beyond the playing field. She ran for a student leadership position, a role that required student votes and peer respect. “You have to convince people to vote for you,” she explained. But the process wasn’t easy. “Speaking to a lot of people was difficult for me.” Still, she won. Her victory wasn't just about popularity, it reflected a deeper principle: “I don’t just do what’s good for me, it should also be good for the person next to me.”

Looking back, her strength came from home. “Nobody taught me that,” she said of her values. “It came from home.” With sisters who had dropped out of school, she made a conscious decision to forge her own path. “I had to cut off several friends, if you discourage me from my goal, stay away from me.”

In Texas, Michelle battled a different form of inequality. As a high-performing student-athlete with a 504 plan for learning accommodations, she found herself in a testing situation where her rights were indirectly challenged. A school staff member told her, “So if you don't want people to wait, you should finish. You shouldn't use your extra time.” Though the message was veiled, the implication was clear, and it wasn’t okay.