Interview by Brandon Harris. Transcription by Rhiley Goff. Photo compliments of Raynelle Rouse
At Friendship Collegiate Academy’s Alumni Day, student reporter Brandon Harris interviewed alumnus Raynelle Rouse for the Friendship News Network. Raynelle, who attended three Friendship schools, shared how her time at Collegiate–including theater and broadcasting–inspired her to become a high school theater teacher and extended learning coordinator within the same school network. She discussed the challenges of transitioning to college, the value of her community organizing background, and how the Friendship mission statement serves as a real-world blueprint for competing globally and giving back to the next generation. You can read the full interview below.
Brandon Harris: Hey, this is Brandon Harris reporting for Friendship News Network. I'm here with Raynelle Rouse and today we are here celebrating Alumni Day at Friendship Collegiate Academy. So, to start things off, what brought you to Collegiate?
Raynelle Rouse: Well, I actually have an older sibling who attended Collegiate before I did. We’re three years apart. So, when he was a senior, I was a freshman,I just followed along with that.
Brandon: How has Friendship prepared you for the future?
Raynelle: I was a college intern and as a college intern, I was able to come back and work on my summer breaks under the summer school principal. And as a college intern, I noticed that I was able to build relationships with younger people, and I was pretty good at helping them connect dots to be able to learn. So when I went back to college after that break, I thought maybe I could be a teacher. I love theater. Why not teach high school theater? Kind of why I'm here today.
Brandon: Who was your favorite teacher at Collegiate?
Raynelle: Can I do the top three?
Brandon: Yeah.
Raynelle: Okay, I'll do the top three. First, Camille Hazel. She got me bit by the theater bug. Nadine Genty still supports me to this day. She was my teacher at Collegiate and now she's a large support system for me at Tech Prep. And the last teacher I would say would be Teriana Duran. She supported me in high school and still supports me today.
Brandon: Did you ever do any extracurricular activities at Collegiate?
Raynelle: Yes, my academy was arts and communications and I was a broadcasting student. So, I did a lot of interviews and broadcasting like you're doing now, and I also starred in productions. So, I did a lot of musical productions here. I was a football and track manager and I hosted a lot of events.
Brandon: What made you comfortable enough to step out of your shell to interview someone?
Raynelle: We are very community-based at Friendship Collegiate. That helped me build the confidence to take the step to do the interview, because I already had a relationship with the people I would be interviewing.
Brandon: What made you come back for Alumni Day?
Raynelle: What made me come back to Alumni Day is that I'm currently a freshman lead teacher at a high school, and I see firsthand some advice that's necessary and some tools or some key tidbits that I help my students with day-to-day. And I just wanted to share the wealth with Collegiate.
Brandon: Right! What college did you go to?
Raynelle: I went to West Virginia State University for my undergrad in communications and my graduate degree in public administration. And I'm currently a PhD student at the University of District of Columbia.
Brandon: Oh wow, that's nice. How was college different from high school?
Raynelle: College was different from high school because I was completely responsible for every action. In high school, the adults have a creative way of finessing you into doing what you're supposed to do, whereas in college, there's nobody finessing you to do anything. You have to have the willpower and the determination to achieve that goal that you're trying to achieve, and you have to push yourself. There's nobody pushing you to get there.
Brandon: What is your current job right now and why did you pick it?
Raynelle: Currently, I am a high school theater teacher. I'm also a freshman lead teacher and I'm coordinator of extended learning. I chose high school theater because I love the idea of empowering people to tell their stories and to give their perspective. And I love that I'm working for the company that I was once at as a student, because then I'm able to see where they're coming from to help empower them in the world and display the world around them. I enjoy being a freshman lead teacher because they're right at that point where…is it middle school or is it high school? So, I am the safe space, or the no nonsense nurturer, who helps get freshmen acclimated with high school so that they can present their best mature self. I love to see the growth from August when they first get here, to about February/March where they've completely cooled down and mastered their maturity.
Brandon: Right? They get to spread their wings basically.
Raynelle: Yes, they get to spread their wings. But before they can spread those wings, I have to train them and get the wings strong enough for them to fly. I love contributing to that.
Brandon: What qualifications did you need for your job?
Raynelle: I needed a degree. I lucked up. Well, I wouldn't say I lucked up, but I always had the mindset that I need to be better. So, when I finished with my first degree in communications, I was one of those millennials who really struggled to find a job. When you go to high school, you finish high school. They say, go to college so you can find a job. I went to college, I interned in college, and then I graduated and I did not find a job. It was really hard for me to find one. So, then in turn, I ended up becoming an American Vista, which took me down the path of community organizing. Being as I have community organizing expertise, in addition to the MPA, it makes it easier for me to use those tools to empower my theater students. So all in all, I think that everything kind of aligns with one another. My grassroots organization experience has helped me teach my scholars how to be the next generation who organizes and shifts the world around them.
Brandon: That sounds very nice. For my last question, do you have any key words of motivation for students of Collegiate?
Raynelle: Yes. The mission of Friendship Public Charter Schools. I had to learn it. Do you all have to learn it?
Brandon: Yes.
Raynelle: Yeah. So, at first, initially it's, "Oh my gosh, this is like an assignment that I have to do for class,” and then you're wracking your brain writing it a hundred times just so you can remember it. But when I left and I thought about world class citizens that contribute actively to their community, you have to compete globally. When you leave high school, you're not just competing against Friendship alumni, you're competing against the world. So, it was very important to have that confidence to know that I went to three schools, Woodridge, Blow Pierce, and Collegiate, whose number one goal was to help me compete globally, and I can do that. And then in turn, while I'm competing globally, what am I doing for the generation that's behind me? Am I contributing actively to my community? And I am self-sufficient while being well-rounded? So, I know it's frustrating as a student, "Oh my gosh, we hear the mission of Friendship again,” but that mission is going to help you achieve the vision you have.
Brandon: Right? Well, thank you for having me.
Raynelle: Thank you. Great interview.
Brandon Harris is a sophomore at Friendship Collegiate Academy. Rhiley Goff is a junior at Friendship Collegiate Academy.