“Being able to use my voice to prevent racial injustice, which I have been a witness to and a victim of, caused me to feel I was not a weapon to society, but one of the many voices of the future.”
Melissa “Nila” Smith, Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, was just 8 years old when she had her first encounter with racism. A classmate hurled racial slurs at her, insulting Nila’s hair texture and brown skin.
Nila shared, “With me already trying to overcome obstacles of my own and recently experiencing the loss of my grandfather, her harsh words felt like another reason to grieve.”
But Nila didn’t let the circumstances break her spirit. Instead, they sparked her passion to fight for racial equity and social justice. She began searching for an outlet, a place where she could be herself and nurture her voice.
Nila said the next year, in fourth grade, her life “transformed for the better. Opportunities began to flow.”
“That was the year that I joined my Boys & Girls Club,” recalled Nila. “When I walked in, I felt an atmosphere I’d never felt before; one that was welcoming, supporting me and my circumstances.”
Nila was introduced to programs and activities that provided an escape and outlet for expression. She gravitated to creative writing and public speaking opportunities at her Club. Nila said these experiences gave her a platform to speak out about societal inequities and empower other kids and teens to do the same.
In an excerpt from her creative writing piece, “True Colors”, Nila shares “The color of my skin is no longer seen as a beautiful feature, but as a weapon to society…the cause of one’s anxiety. I can no longer sit
silently.” She has not stayed silent, but instead has spoken up and is pushing for the change she wants to see.
Over the years, Nila has continued to blossom as a well-rounded leader, participating in Keystone, a high school student-led program that promotes service and leadership. Nila has since received several accolades, including 2019-2020 Jr. Youth of the Year for Cobb County’s A.W. “Tony” Matthews Club for demonstrating leadership excellence in her Club, community, school, and career pursuits.
And this year, the South Cobb High School sophomore received the most prestigious award a teen can receive in the entire organization – Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.
About her big accomplishment, Nila said, “I yearn to be Youth of the Year, ambassador for the organization that has poured into my life tremendously.”
Nila remains committed to the push for progress. “My Club gave me the opportunity to serve on a teen empowerment panel and speak about racial tension and racial reconciliation. Being able to use my voice to prevent racial injustice, which I have been a witness to and a victim of, caused me to feel that I was not a weapon to society, but one of the many voices of the future.”
The young entrepreneur says nothing can stop her from flourishing, noting aspirations of studying international business in France after graduating high school. She encourages teens to aim high and never let the words of others define their destiny.
“I hold complete power and control over my identity.”
Nila is just one of many youth who have found a place of belonging and a path to pursue their dreams at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Please give today – because every kid deserves a great future.
