A Farewell from the Class of 2024

6/4/2024

Nala Johnson, DSHA 24

Nala Johnson, DSHA '24, was chosen by her peers as the student who most reflected "The Spirit of the Class." Johnson will attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. where she plans to study psychology and get on the pre-med track. Below are excerpts from her speech at graduation where she reflected upon how DSHA has prepared her and her classmates for the next stage of their lives and how to keep striving in the future—all told via a soaring eagle metaphor.

"When I think of a DSHA woman, I think of our qualities of being a woman of faith, a self-advocate, a critical thinker, and, most importantly, a leader. I think of how the class of 2024 embodies what it means to be a strong woman who perseveres through adversity as she soars through her trials in the sky with grace like an eagle."

"The eagle... can live up to 70 years, but around the age of 40, it has a very important decision to make: After 40 years, the eagle's beak begins to bend so it can no longer rip open the pockets. Its talons become weak and can no longer grip the fish, and their feathers become heavy and can no longer soar and catch the current of the wind. But it needs all of its strength to get back up into the mountain, so a decision has to be made if he wants to live another 30 years. If it's going to live another 30 years, it must bag its beak against the mountain until it falls off. When the beak grows back, he has to use the new one to pick out all the talons and then pull out all his old feathers so new ones can grow. After all that, it takes 140 days for the eagle to add 30 years to his life."

"I pointed out all these things to illustrate how God can strengthen through subtraction. DSHA has served its purpose in our lives for the past four years and has provided and equipped us with the tools necessary to navigate the world and start new. Starting over isn't always easy, but it's purposeful. It's purposeful to close the door and grab a new key to open a new level of opportunities and growth in places that are meant to add value to you and equip you to be who God has called you to be."

"In your next season, I want you all to see some things your eyes haven't seen and ears haven't heard, and step into a vision of who you see yourself to be. You will run into a lot of nos, but all you need is one yes from God because you stand at the threshold of your future. Keep learning, keep dreaming, keep growing, don't give up on your dream because someone can't see what you see."

Back