Keenyah Henderson of Carver Elementary receives Student Spotlight honor
Jan. 17—HENDERSON — Carver Elementary School fourth-grader Keenyah Henderson is already developing the necessary traits toward finding success in life.
At 9, Henderson's ability to develop strong relationships with her classmates and excel in the classroom, all while having to adjust to a socially distant learning environment brought on by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, helped her earn the Student Spotlight award.
The past two years have presented plenty of challenges for Henderson from a social and education standpoint, but she has not let the circumstances deter her from staying focused in school so she can achieve her own personal goals.
Being "in school is a little weird and sometimes very hard," Henderson said. "Most of the time I have to have my mask on and I have a little trouble breathing, but you have to keep trying no matter what."
Receiving the Student Spotlight award came as a surprise for Henderson but not to Carver Elementary School Principal Stephanie Alston.
Although she has only known Henderson for a year, Alston has been amazed by the maturity she has shown at a young age by being one of the first to turn assignments in and seeking help from teachers and other faculty members if she has a question.
Alston said that Henderson is a perfect representation of what a school like Carver Elementary tries to instill into the small but vibrant student body, which is why she was thrilled to see Henderson obtain the Student Spotlight award.
"Keenyah is so deserving [of the Student Spotlight]," Alston said. "She is such a sweet child and we tell [the kids] all the time that we're proud of them, and something like this makes them feel super special. The other kids are so curious now, so I'm glad she can be a role model for them like she is every day and we're just so proud."
Alston added that she has also been impressed by how Henderson has handled all of the COVID-19 restrictions that have now been in place for two years.
Education during a global pandemic is something that Alston knows many students and teachers have struggled through but said that Henderson's resilience through the unorthodox times is another reason as to why she is a role model for other students.
"To be the awesome student that [Keenyah] is today, it doesn't seem like she's missed a beat," Alston said. "If there's anything that's concerning to her, she seeks improvement and she asks questions. Keenyah makes it look easy. I know she's had stumbles here and there, but she's made everything look good."
With Henderson now in the second half of her fourth-grade year, Alston knows that she is going to keep thriving at Carver Elementary and with any career path she takes as long as she keeps embodying the characteristics that have made her successful and respected amongst her peers.
"I want to see [Keenyah] continue to be a leader," Alston said. "She tries to encourage her classmates to do the right thing, but she sets the tone by doing and showing them what they're supposed to do with assignments, behavior and everything else, so I want to see her grow and flourish."
Henderson wants to finish out her final months at Carver Elementary strong so that she can be prepared for whatever challenges middle school provides in a few years.
The goal for Henderson is to follow in the footsteps of several family members and become an artist. While she anticipates that path to be one filled with obstacles, Henderson is determined to use the qualities taught to her by Alston and the rest of the Carver Elementary staff in order to fulfill her dream.
"I'm going to keep practicing [at art] so I can get better at it," Henderson said.
Contact Brandon White at bwhite@hendersondispatch.com or by phone at 252-436-2840
Contact Brandon White at bwhite@hendersondispatch.com or by phone at 252-436-2840
