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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Trinity W., Student from Brooklyn Environmental Exploration School, on After School Programs
8:58:37
·
3 min
Trinity W., an eighth-grade student, passionately advocates for the importance of after-school programs, emphasizing their role in providing a safe space for students to grow, learn, and socialize beyond regular school hours. She shares her personal experiences with various after-school activities, including STEM, cosmetology, sports, leadership, art, and STEP, highlighting how each has contributed to her personal growth and development.
- Trinity describes how after-school programs offer opportunities for students to engage with friends and learn new skills in a structured environment.
- She recounts her proud moment of being nominated to play in a girls' football league at MetLife Stadium, which boosted her confidence and challenged gender stereotypes.
- The testimony underscores the value of after-school programs in providing diverse experiences, including field trips, that open students' eyes to new opportunities and potential career paths.
Trinity W.
8:58:37
Hi.
8:58:38
Good evening.
8:58:39
My name is Trinity, and I'm in eighth grade.
8:58:43
I'm here today because after school programs are not just extra activities, they are necessary.
8:58:49
They give students like me a place to feel safe, stay motivated, and discover what we are capable of.
8:58:56
I'll be honest, when the last bell rings for to end school, none of us ever wanna go home at all.
8:59:06
We are very excited that we are able to be with our friends and having the expansion span of just school time, it doesn't really it's not really enough for us.
8:59:18
So not and it's not because we don't love our family.
8:59:22
It's just because we do wanna be around our friends.
8:59:25
We learn new things, and we have experience.
8:59:27
We wouldn't get anywhere else.
8:59:30
Like, when we're at home, we're digital with our friends.
8:59:32
Sometimes friends can't come out to hang out because of parents.
8:59:36
But after school programs do give us that experience where we can hang with our friends and learn new things from each other.
8:59:44
For example, I've been involved in STEM, cosmetology, sports, leadership, art, and STEP through my after school program.
8:59:53
Each one has helped me grow in different ways.
8:59:55
STEM showed me how creative science can be.
8:59:58
Cosmetology told me about self care, love, confidence, and sports pushed me to be harder, work harder.
9:00:06
Leadership made me speak up more, and art let me express myself when I couldn't verbally express myself.
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I can express myself in my artwork because I know I will have a connection
Daniel Weisberg
9:00:19
with And
Trinity W.
9:00:21
STEM gave me a sense of teamwork and rhythm.
9:00:25
When I'm in step, it's like I get to learn different cultures, different traditions of how people dance.
9:00:32
And it's not just I step just to step.
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I step because you can actually feel the motivation, and you can you feel really important when you're in step.
9:00:43
And it's not just about what we do in a building.
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We also get to do we also get to experience things outside of school.
9:00:50
We have we take fun trips that open our eyes to new opportunities.
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Like, we can go on a trip and you just see something and then want you wanna explore it, and that's what you could do in after school when you're on trips.
9:01:04
One of my proudest moments actually was when my after school program back in December, I was nominated to play in the girls' basket I mean, bass basketball.
9:01:14
Sorry.
9:01:14
The girls' football league at the MetLife Stadium.
9:01:18
That was a very huge moment for me because I felt very underestimated at the time because I am a girl, and I didn't think that I really had the confidence and courage to push myself.
9:01:30
And I felt like I was just doing it for fun, but when I really got the chance to play at the MetLife Stadium and I stepped onto the field, it just changed everything.
9:01:39
The same time
UNKNOWN
9:01:40
Timer's expired.
9:01:41
Thank you.
Trinity W.
9:01:43
Thank
Rita Joseph
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you, Trinity.
9:01:50
Hello?
9:01:51
Can you hear us?
Trinity W.
9:01:52
Oh yeah, go ahead sorry.
Rita Joseph
9:01:55
Thank you for your testimony.
9:01:57
I hope you had a great time.
9:01:59
I'm gonna come back for questions on leave.
9:02:01
Oh
Trinity W.
9:02:02
okay.