Site Supervisor and Education Coordinator, Boys & Girls Club of Geneva
Current Location:
Geneva, NY
Major:
Studio Art
How does a bastard, black girl, child of a mother on
Welfare, raised in Geneva’s forgotten
spot south of the tracks, provident, impoverished without power.
Grow up a role model and a scholar?
The loud talker, proud daughter without a father
Got a lot farther by working a lot harder
By bein’ a lot smarter
By bein’ a self-starter
By sixteen, vowed to build her community stronger.
Well, the word got around, they asked, "What is your game plan"
Took up a collection to send her to William Smith, man!
"Get your education, don't forget from whence you came, and
The world's gonna know your name. What's your name, Fam?"
Allauna Nischelle Overstreet
My name’s, Allauna Nischelle Overstreet
There are many things left to complete
but just you wait, just you wait.
As a Geneva native, I would be lying if I said HWS was my first choice. Like many young people from small towns, my dream was to leave home and let everyone wonder about how amazing my life must be, obviously. To my surprise, HWS came through with the most generous financial aid package and wouldn’t you know it, my last choice became my first choice in a matter of seconds; needless to say, I accepted.
With the guidance of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), I was equipped with all the tools needed to succeed prior to my first year. Like many first years, one week after orientation, reality hit hard. Listen…college is hard, but it was especially hard for a person like me. Don’t get me wrong, I am a very intelligent human being, but it takes me triple the amount of time to read and understand something I had just read than it would the average reader. That being said, time management became my worst enemy and my best friend. What may have looked like a breeze was more like a hurricane in disguise. My first year was trial and error, but with the consistent guidance of James Burruto, Edith Wormley, and Bonne Dileo from HEOP, I was able to accomplish much more than I could have ever imagined. I owe a great deal of my success to them. I can honestly say HWS provides their students with all the tools needed to succeed. As Studio Art completely consumed my life, I found my voice and I haven’t shut up since.
I have had some great opportunities since graduation, but I will leave with my most recent adventures and accomplishments. I lived in Washington State for two years working as a site supervisor for the YMCA of Greater Seattle, before moving back to the Finger Lakes to assume my current role as the site supervisor and education coordinator of the Boys & Girls Club of Geneva. While in Washington, I also modeled and acted part time for Seattle Talent and Seattle Artist Agency, as well as performed with Princess Party Productions as, none other than, Princess Tiana. My future is extremely bright. I feel like I am living the dream. In the future, if of course I am not on Broadway or the next Rihanna, I plan to be running my own business, supporting Geneva locals, educating the youth, and building the community stronger. Remember, “Fight the fear and the greed.” Find your passion and roll with it, trust me, you are worth it.
