Meet Ana

Meet Ana, one of the first two 2024 recipients of the Committee of Concern’s Scholarship for high school graduates continuing their education. Ana will be attending Hunter College this fall. Congratulations, Ana!

by Ana C.

I’ve resided in Hamilton Heights, also known as West Harlem, for the past 12 years or so. In my neighborhood, African Americans make up 32.2% of the population and Hispanics make up 52.2% being the majority. 

I spent most of my childhood playing with the neighborhood kids, attending their birthday celebrations, assisting with food donations, and always striking up a conversation with the adults I saw. The unity within this community is something that not everyone can obtain. When it’s summertime, I’m at my happiest while Spanish tunes are blasting out the car radios, the fire hydrants are open for the children and the domino board is out for the elders. Everyone is playing games, smoking, drinking and listening to music. Although these are not age-appropriate things for me, I still admire how everyone conveys a sense of freedom; that is something I want to take with me into Hunter. 

Aside from all the positive aspects, there have also been some hardships presented that have created lessons for me to learn. The drug trade would be one negative feature. Drugs are sold to my community by my community. Residents’ health is jeopardized and exposed to chemicals that might cause addiction. Growing up, I witnessed innumerable young girls and boys choose that lifestyle and follow in their parents’ footsteps. It has taught me that morality isn’t always sustained in life by survival—people will do whatever it takes to ensure their financial security—and it has undoubtedly changed the way I view the world. I want to make sure that when I get to Hunter, I can raise awareness and create change to these recurring issues. 

Another aspect that I have seen in my community that has taught me a lesson is the green space. Although my neighborhood appears to be eco-friendly, it becomes clear that Riverbank State Park has a sewage plant underneath it. The air quality emanating from the park’s smokestacks is extremely unhealthy for us. My city’s deliberate attempt to conceal a sewage facility by building a park above it made me aware of some of the shortcomings in our system. 

I can now clearly see the reality of what’s happening. The Heights isn’t worth as much as Chelsea or Tribeca. I’ve discovered that there’s always something that can be uncovered that is negatively affecting the population in places where African-Americans and Hispanics make up the majority of the race. Just this fact alone makes me want to keep in mind since it demonstrates the objectives of the city and the ongoing role racism plays in our daily lives. 

Due to my upbringing in this neighborhood, I have witnessed diversity, freedom, and solidarity in this community. However, it has also shown prejudice, an unethical system, and the realities of what individuals will do to survive clear to me; I will take this into Hunter and share viewpoints from my personal experience while maintaining an open mind in order to bring about change and do all I can to better both my community and others.

Thank you Ana!

Note: Committee of Concern Scholarship Application hard copies are in the lobby at the security desk and can be submitted through August 31, 2024.