Villeage Voices: From Timid to Tenacious-How Lawrenceville Changed My Story

By Na’imah E. Ford ‘25

Na’imah E. Ford ‘25 was the Director of Production and Anchor of L10 News’ 11th editorial board, an inaugural Hutchins Civic Media Grant recipient, and the 2024-45 Arts Representative to the Student Council.

If I could imagine Lawrenceville as a person, and have a conversation with that person, I would say, “Thank you.” Not just for the days and nights that are filled with smiles and laughter, but even for those moments when I’m balancing my schedule, or when my day is jam packed, because Lawrenceville has taught me a lesson that I hope others will also learn: How to hear yourself amidst a sea of voices.

Entering Lawrenceville as a new Third Former in 2022, I was timid. I recall my Forces that Shaped the Modern World class, where whenever I opened my mouth, it looked like I wanted to vomit. I was fearful that my initial angst would set in stone the future of my Lawrenceville experience. I had convinced myself then that I would become a shell of a person, navigating Lawrenceville with a simple goal to leave.

That mindset quickly faded when I had a conversation with my parents about what was offered at my school. Their eyes lit up in complete awe when I described the Harkness Travel Program, or how big our prom is on the Cornucopia Majesty cruising down the Hudson, or the House system, or the many research institutes opportunities available. They said it would be foolish to squander any of those, you’ve only got one shot. And it really hit me, partially because I somehow found myself in disagreement with that statement. Yes, the opportunities here are plentiful and rich, but the one of the best parts of Lawrenceville is that you get so many shots.

I think back to my Third and Fourth year experiences in the Crescent. I was nervous about running for House Council, and so I never did. At that moment, I thought I may have relinquished any chance in future leadership. I had a long talk with myself about whether or not I could be a leader and I decided to put myself out there.

I assumed that leadership meant that you had it all together, and that it was about how loud your opinions could be voiced, and how many people you could get to hear it. Writing my leadership applications, I had to think carefully not about what I was saying, but instead how I was saying it. I wanted to make sure that everything that I said had purpose and meaning, and had a great impact. I wanted people not to ask, “What did Na’imah do?” but “Why did she do it?” This is my best example of Lawrenceville's biggest lesson: I learned to first find my voice before I used it.

It was only in the next year that I became an executive at L10 News, and the following year the Anchor and Director of Production. In that same year, I was elected as the Student Council Arts Representative, where I was able to coordinate with other students to pull together an All-Arts Night and create House Arts Baskets for the rest of the student body to enjoy.

It was in these roles that I learned that to be a leader, you must also be okay with being led. I learned that my voice has an impact because it’s not only mine, but because it represents the voices of others as well. My experience on the Student Council was about learning to navigate a great balancing act between independence and collaboration. Our lunch meetings were all about conversation, checking in on each other’s progress, because oftentimes that is how new ideas emerge.

Student Council and L10 have been such important commitments.  I have made so many friendships, and have had so many meaningful conversations about the most important thing - community - and how we can shape it to be better. The adults on campus with whom I have interacted on campus have been so supportive and helpful in my personal growth and development at Lawrenceville.

Something else I would love to thank Lawrenceville for is opportunity. Selection as a recipient of a Hutchins Student Civic Media Grant from Lawrenceville’s Hutchins Institute for Social Justice allowed me to create a video journalism project and have an open conversation about racism on social media. On a trip to Greece via the School’s Harkness Travel Program, I connected with so many Lawrenceville students and faculty that I otherwise may not have been able to meet, and embarked on a journey in an entirely different continent. My hope, rather my goal, is that one day, I might be able to give back to a greater community in the same way that Lawrenceville has given to me.

As I reflect on my journey at Lawrenceville, I am grateful for the transformative experiences and opportunities that have shaped me into who I am today. As a military kid, I’ve known the ideal of home to be ephemeral, but my home at Lawrenceville is anything but that. This campus has 700 acres of memories, and stories that I will appreciate for the rest of my life.  From navigating initial fears to embracing leadership roles, Lawrenceville has taught me invaluable lessons about finding my voice, fostering community, and seizing every opportunity. It is here that I discovered the power of my voice, the strength of collaboration, and the beauty of diverse perspectives. As I look towards the future, I am inspired to pay forward the generosity and support I received here, knowing that Lawrenceville will forever be a place where I learned not just to exist, but to thrive. Thank you, Lawrenceville, for all that you have done for me.

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.