By: Aiyla Ahmad ’26, Siboney Oviedo-Gray ’26, Bing Su ’24, Yash Malhotra ’25, Nyla Meeks ’24, and Kenadi McDile ’24
In the last 30 years, MICDS has granted six lucky individuals within its high school community the privilege to attend the annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Their objective? Over the course of two enriching days in downtown St. Louis America’s Center, SDLC participants would bridge confidence with community, celebrating their individual, unique identities in an environment of unconditional acceptance alongside 2,017 other student leaders from across the nation. Through charismatic, empowering speakers, meaningful conversational activities in familial-like group sessions, and genuine, empathetic immersement within affinity groups, MICDS’ SDLC participants were equipped with revelational truth, knowledge, joy, and power to problem-solve school-specific issues regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Essentially, like Dr. Rodney Glasgow, the leading facilitating director of the conference, a graduate of Harvard University, proudly proclaimed in his opening speech, “SDLC is a magical place, a flowing well in a desert, where regardless of our dispositions, we all can come as one and be filled, again and again.” Thus, without further adieu, let’s take a closer look at the “droplets of discovery” our fellow Ram SDLC participants have collected!
Here’s what Yash ’25 had to say…
“One of the speakers that resonated with me was Dr. Omékongo Dibinga. I found his story inspiring because he kept a positive mindset and attitude his entire childhood and adult life despite his struggles of racism and economic status. One of the things that resonated with me most was when he said ‘Your mind will lead you to your fears, but your heart will lead you to your dreams.’ He encouraged us never to let the doubters or negative thoughts get into our head. Instead, he told us to block out the noise and unite with others facing the same struggles… Hearing his stories greatly inspires me to be more active and involved in making sure MICDS and my community are inclusive for everyone.”
Bing ’24 concurred, adding on…
“Honestly, there are so many complex emotions that arise when I think about the valuable connections we managed to forge in just a mere two and a half days at SDLC. The conference was magical, and the essence of it really resided within the social element I oftentimes take for granted, and that’s people. People of confidence, people of amazingness, people of love, people of passion, people of genius, people of vulnerability, people of strength… These remarkable, marvelous identities go on and on, and as much as we have our individual uniqueness and diversity given the wide range of schools, from The West Side to The East Coast, from Hawaii to Alaska, from Korea to The United States, at SDLC, we celebrated that together, united, with an open mind at this conference. From students that barely knew each other to becoming friends… I’m never going to forget any of this, the feeling of being able to share and be unconditionally embraced, the feeling of seeing so many people experiencing the exact same issues you are, the feeling of such a large community (shout out to the LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group!)… This conference gave me a sense of leadership I never even knew I had. Like speaker Omékongo Dibinga proudly proclaimed, ‘You’re either with or against, there is no ally, there are only partners.’ I aim to bring about these experiences and share the magic of SDLC with the MICDS community and hopefully, be that partner, for every single individual not only in our diverse community but in the world beyond… Let’s tell these wonderful people that yes, they do belong here!”
Furthermore, Siboney ’26 shares her perspective…
“I applied to go to SDLC on a whim. I was new to MICDS and I figured that getting involved in these kinds of leadership activities would help me connect with my peers and teachers. As I was writing the application essay, I realized that it was easy to get my thoughts down about my personal experiences with diversity and I had never felt that ease before. It occurred to me that I was very passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and I am so glad that I got to share my passion with hundreds of students at the conference. Having many people around me who were open-minded and supportive empowered me to stand up in front of 70 people and share my opinions. When I sat down for the keynote speaker the first night we arrived, my passion grew immensely just by seeing so many people my age in the same place for the same reasons. It was astonishing to me that most of the 2,000 kids were engaged in the presentation and it was for good reason; Simon Tam, the speaker, would keep breaking out into song as he told his life story. Every keynote speaker had very different messages about how they envisioned a better future but each instilled strength and reassurance into me. A quote that really stands out to me was gifted by Omékongo Dibinga who said, “You define your circumstances, your circumstances don’t define you.” He was a fan favorite and was personally my favorite speaker because he spoke in poems and had such effortless rhythm and articulation. It was hard to stop listening. Going to the LatinX affinity group was also a highlight of the trip because it comforted me that there were many others like me; people who don’t know which box they’re supposed to fit into. But in the end, I realized it’s not a matter of choosing a box, it’s a matter of making your own. SDLC was truly one of the most enlightening experiences of my life and I hope to spread the knowledge I acquired to my community so they can find a sense of belonging and freedom and take comfort in that no one is alone in this fight.”
Moreover, Aiyla ’26 gives her thoughts…
“For me, the most empowering thing about SDLC was the community that it brought. I met old friends that I hadn’t seen for over eight years as well as new faces who I remain in contact with. After meeting with a smaller Muslim affinity group, I was invited to go to the SWANA (South West Asian and North African) group and I am so glad that I did. It allowed me to be with so many people who looked like me and had similar experiences to mine. I had never been in a space like that in my entire life and it was completely life-changing. I hope to recreate that experience for people like me in the MICDS community. Another thing that we did at SDLC was a silent movement activity where different indicators of identity were called out and we stood up silently when those we identified with were said. It was amazing to see so many other people around me stand up when I did and it also provoked a lot of inward reflection about who I truly was. The most important takeaway I had from this conference was something that one of the keynote speakers, Omékongo Dobinga, said: “There is no such thing as an ally, instead be a partner.” My goal to help improve diversity at MICDS is to become a partner with all the other students seeking representation in the school. Unity is important to combat injustice and that is something that I hope to nurture.”
Additionally, Kenadi ‘24 provides her outlook…
“My time at SDLC was unforgettable to say the least. It was an unimaginable immersive experience. The people I met will forever remain in my heart and it still shocks me how close we became in just two to three days. As someone who values diversity, equity, and inclusion, the conversations surrounding those topics were very insightful and open. I felt very safe to speak openly in each space and everyone took each conversation seriously and valued each other’s opinions. Not only did we speak of a necessary change, but we also spoke about ourselves. Through activities that focused on identity I found myself actually self-reflecting on who I am and how I want to present myself. I am very grateful for my time at SDLC as it provided me with the necessary tools to build firmer foundations for conversations on DEI at my school. I’m saddened by the fact that I am only able to attend as a student once, but maybe I will return as faculty and have the chance to impact students’ lives as it has impacted me. As I continue the conversation at my school, I hope to evoke a sense of power in the minority, bridge the gap between affinity groups, and create a space where everyone feels welcome to be themselves 24/7. To end, SD..!”
Last but not least, Nyla ‘24 contributes her side of the story, remarking that it was an eye-opening experience that allowed her to meet a lot of diverse people and connect with her identity.
While SDLC was taking place, MICDS Faculty Dr. Carter, Ms. Prince, Dr. Lee, and Mr. George participated in NAIS’s People of Color Conference (POCC), which was held at the same location. After SDLC and POCC, students and teachers alike reconvened and discussed personal takeaways along with their applications to MICDS.
Looking forward, in the year 2024, SDLC participants, in collaboration with iDentity and Mrs. Nicole Trueman-Shaw, Director of Upper School Student Leadership & Dean of Students, will be planning, organizing, and conducting their own Regional Diversity Leadership Conference in February.
Great job on standing up for what’s right, Rams!