001I'm Deanna ponne I'm the interim principal at Donovan Middle School while miss Paladino is at Proctor so this is Valentina Johnson she's an eighth grade student at Donovan Middle School Valentina belongs to the Buddies Club Battle of the books the drama club student council in the National Junior Honor Society and I'm so proud of her for taking advantage of everything we have to offer at Donovan ironically she was a kindergartener right next door to me when I taught kindgarten at Jones so I do remember her as a little little girl Hello my name is Valentina Johnson and I'll be performing the poem hey black child by count col hey black child do you know who you are who you really are do you know who you can be what you want to be if you
002try to be what you can be hey blackchild do you know where you're going where you are really going do you know what you can learn what you want to learn if you try to learn what you can learn hey black child do you know you are strong I mean really strong do you know that you can do what you want to do if you try to do what you can do hey black child be what you can be learn what you must learn do what you can do and tomorrow your nation will be what you want it to be thank you like to talk about the a little this poem really encourages ambition and self-love it serves as a sorry it serves as a reminder to Youth of their potential and resilience regardless of
003their race or ethnicity it inspires others to strive toward their strive towards greatness work towards their goals Embrace their roots and break barriers in their academic and social Journeys overall it tries to convey the message that with enough effort efft determination dedication and perseverance anyone has the potential to change the world and make amazing accomplishments thank you