Erie students say school is the pathway to making dreams come true

One young Erie School District student wants to play professional football, or maybe study law.

Another has always wanted to be a funeral director.

A middle school student who dances at home and in a private studio plans to study performing arts.

They're students recommended to the Erie Times-News by Erie community school directors for their passion for learning. All of them say that education will help make their dreams come true.

"Education is important to me," said DeNiya Hollis, 14. "I want to be able to talk about different subjects and have the answer if someone asks a question. I want to get into college and be prepared for life."

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DeNiya Hollis: 'I want to learn as much as I can'

DeNiya was student body president and an honor-roll student at Wilson Middle School, where she typically earned straight A's. She will be a ninth-grader at Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy this fall.

"I'm excited about it," she said. "Going to a new school is exciting to me, and meeting new teachers and friends. I didn't really have the full middle school experience. It was cut off by COVID when I was in sixth grade, and in seventh grade we worked online. Eighth grade was more rewarding, and I'm really looking forward to this year."

DeNiya chose Collegiate Academy because of its academic reputation. The school is consistently ranked among the best high schools in the state by U.S. News & World Report.

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After high school, DeNiya plans to study mortuary science.

"I've always been interested in it," DeNiya said. "I don't really know why."

"When she told me that was what she wants to do, I was like, OK," DeNiya's mom, Taleshia Johnson, said. "I just want her to do something she's passionate about, and if that's her passion, great."

In school, DeNiya particularly enjoys math and English language arts.

"I like writing, and I like literature and grammar," she said.

DeNiya plans to maintain her good grades and hopes to get a scholarship to help finance college studies.

"Basically, I want to learn as much as I can," she said.

Alina Quinn: 'Erie is a great place to learn'

Alina Quinn has become a kind of public ambassador for education.

The Strong Vincent Middle School eighth-grader is featured on a new photographic mural at American Tinning & Galvanizing at West 12th and Cherry streets with her declaration that "Erie is a great place to learn."

Alina made the statement in a video about community school initiatives at Strong Vincent. United Way of Erie County's community schools program brings community assets and resources to local schools to help children and families.

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"The goal is to remove the barriers that keep kids from learning," said Robin Scheppner, president and managing owner of American Tinning & Galvanizing. Scheppner is a member of the United Way board and a member and co-founder of Women United, which raises money to pay the salaries of community school directors. "Kids need to be comfortable at school, need to be well fed and well clothed, and need to have emotional or medical issues addressed so that when they're seated in their first-period class, they're ready to go."

Scheppner met Alina Quinn earlier this year at United Way's annual meeting, where Alina's video was shown. Alina's quote is featured in the new American Tinning & Galvanizing mural celebrating community schools.

"It even was the theme of the United Way meeting," Alina, 13, said

Erie really is a great place to learn, and not just in school, she said.

"We have the (Experience) Children's Museum, the library and other great places down by the bay, Frontier Park and an amazing school system," Alina said. "There are just so many places and ways to learn."

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Alina plans to dance professionally one day.

"It's what I spend most of my time doing, around my house or at the studio," she said. Alina has studied dance at Little Dance Studio for eight years and will begin studies at Erie Dance Theater this year.

"We have a dance club at school that I've heard good things about, but I've never been able to join. I usually rush out of school at the end of the day to get down to the studio," Alina said.

Alina has participated in a number of school clubs and activities, including cooking club, book club and painting a mural in the school courtyard this past school year. She also helps pack STEM boxes with materials for students to learn and create at home year around.

In school, she especially enjoys writing and other language arts and Strong Vincent's Go College program, which helps students sharpen study skills, explore careers and visit college campuses.

She recently visited and fell in love with Mercyhurst University.

"I really want to go there," Alina said. "They have a whole building for performing arts — dance, music, everything."

Kyleon Bethea: 'I want to be there every day'

Fifth-grader Kyleon Bethea hates to miss a day or even a couple hours of school.

"I literally have to schedule all his appointments after school or on a day when he doesn't have school," Kyleon's mom, Lynsie Johnson, said.

Kyleon is a straight-A student at McKinley Elementary School.

"I want to be there every day so I don't miss anything," Kyleon said.

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Kyleon hopes to play professional football.

"If that doesn't work out, I want to be a lawyer so I can make a lot of money and help people out," he said.

For now, Kyleon's favorite subject is science.

"I like to learn about unknown inventors that people don't talk about anymore," he said.

Kyleon appreciates that his teachers at McKinley have been willing to spend extra time with him when he wants more information or extra help.

"Like this year, we used this app called i-Ready and I needed help with this one particular lesson. My teacher worked independently whenever she had time and I had time so I could better understand the lesson," he said.

Kyleon is an advocate for other McKinley students.

"My school asked me to be the advocate for the kids of the future of McKinley, to talk about things like a vision statement, what the school could do better and what could change, and to be the voice of kids for the upcoming school year," he said.

Kyleon's vision for the school is "that they accept everyone and everybody gets a good education."

Outside of school, Kyleon enjoys football. "I play multiple positions, but I like quarterback best," he said.

Kyleon is eager for classes to begin.

"I miss being in school," he said.

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmyers.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie students are shaping their future, as new school year begins