Representing Dyett High School in the Right Way

If you were to ask people at my high school to describe me, I think you’d hear the words “mature” and “goofy” come up. It might seem hard to be both, but let me tell you how. “Mature” because I stay on top of what I have to do at school. And “goofy” because if a friend of mine isn’t in a good mood, I’m the one who can make them laugh.

I’ve been that way since elementary school; my favorite part of the school day was always lunchtime because my friends and I would always crack jokes at our lunch table. Now that I’m a freshman, I want that maturity to come through a lot more.

Eighth-graders should know that when their teachers tell them that high school isn’t going to be a joke, they’re not joking. I used to think that they weren’t serious about a lot of things not sliding in high school as they might be in elementary school, but now I see that they knew what they were talking about.

Between algebra and biology and AP Human Geography and all my other classes, I have a lot of work to do. I’ve been staying on track by keeping a calendar that tracks all my assignments and using timers and alarms to make sure I’m getting all of my homework done. As a freshman, I want to receive honors and establish my name as a good student by getting to know my teachers and doing my work.

I’m also very serious about graduating as the valedictorian.

Being successful at Dyett is important to me because I see the school as a reflection of the surrounding community. Some people might say that it’s a reflection of abandoned houses and vacant lots. I say it’s so much more than that. Dyett deserves to be top-ranked. The students here are extremely smart, and the teachers teach well and are willing to give second chances.

You can always tell that you’ve succeeded at something when people start hating on you. That’s why you have to deal with it by taking it as encouragement that others want to be in the position you are in.

I feel that the path to success for me has been made a little easier now that I’m back at school every day. I’m more social and engaged in the building, and I get to know my teachers and understand their lessons a lot better.

A few words I would use to describe Dyett are safe, good, and academic. I’ve seen the safety side especially during my first few weeks here. The staff is very serious about everyone wearing their masks correctly, and the janitors and security guards are always sanitizing different parts of the building.

Over the next four years, I hope to grow both mentally and physically. My mind is on academics because I do want to go to college. Then, I want to enter the military, and, after that, I want to make a lot of money buying and selling stocks.

Whatever I accomplish, Dyett High School is going to be connected to my name for the rest of my life. It’s up to me to ensure that we’re connected in a good way. But I know that I can make my school and my community proud by giving back. I think some people see making investments in the South Side as a waste because they think things will just go back to the way they were before.

I see things differently and know that Dyett can play a part in improving our city. When I’m successful and you can look me up online, I want people to see “Dyett High School” next to my name. And when they look up “Dyett High School,” I want “DeShon” to be right next to it as well.

DeShon is a Chicago native who hopes to pursue a combination of basketball, football, and track in high school. He graduated elementary school from Burnside Scholastic Academy.