This story is part of Capital B Gary’s Community Spotlight series. We’re shining a light on the people, places, and businesses working to bring joy to and uplift Gary. To nominate a deserving spotlight, reach out to Gary Community Engagement Editor Derreka Rollins at derreka.rollins@capitalbnews.org.
Last fall, Rayven Anderson had an idea. College application season was starting, and as senior class president at West Side Leadership Academy, she wanted to make sure her peers knew where to begin. For some kids, the very mention of life after high school is enough to make them panic, but Anderson was there offering a steady hand while they prepared to navigate unchartered territory.
“Don’t let the future spook you,” read the Halloween-themed bulletin board she crafted. On it, the Gary native outlined different pathways students could take after graduation. She included information about local trade schools, tips for using LinkedIn for professional development, and details on navigating Common Application as well as Common Black College Application, which provide a central place for students to apply to multiple colleges. An airy ghost, spider webs, and pumpkins rounded it all out.
It was helpful not only to other seniors at West Side, but also to Anderson, whose unfamiliarity with the application processes initially prompted her to research.
“Since I have it and I’m in this position where I can share this news, that’s what I decided I was going to do because it’s not a secret,” she said.
And that’s Anderson’s approach: helping and educating others whenever possible. Whether using her mastery of math concepts to tutor students or guiding her younger sister through making the most out of her freshman year, Anderson embodies an essential aspect of leadership — service.
For a long time, she said, she didn’t know she had a voice or how to use it. The fear of failure discouraged her from trying new things. Not to mention, her first year of high school was interrupted by a pandemic. This all changed when she transferred from Calumet New Tech High School to West Side during her sophomore year.
At West Side, she blossomed, becoming someone who wanted to participate in extracurricular activities and be more embedded in her academics. She put herself out there, starting with playing violin in the school’s orchestra — something she initially dreaded. But with her instructor’s encouragement, she pressed on and improved. The reward came when she received two gold medals from the Indiana State School Music Association. All because she didn’t give in to her fear of failing.
“Ever since then, I’ve said, ‘You know what, even if I fail, I still gained something.’ So I’ve been trying everything, regardless if I win or not,” she said.
She likened the experience to an awakening. From there, she joined organizations like the student council and school newspaper. With a newfound confidence, she began a campaign to become president for West Side’s Class of 2024, running on the promise of “turning ideas into reality.” This resonated with her classmates, who subsequently voted her in.
“I wanted to be the voice,” Anderson said. “Regardless of if I was president or not, I knew that I just wanted to speak for my class.”
Now, she’s focused on fulfilling her classmates’ wishes and giving them a senior year to look back on fondly. Some of those wishes include taking a field trip to Chicago and plotting a class prank (but don’t tell the teachers!). To up the nostalgia factor of finishing the K-12 journey, she even passes out candy on holidays to recall memories of elementary school.
With all Anderson has going on — she also works at Walmart, is the vice president of the school’s National Honor Society, and is a math peer mentor — it can be hard to take a beat and appreciate her work. Sometimes, she wonders if her efforts go unnoticed, and that’s when a compliment from a classmate makes all the difference.
The advice she’s gleaned from some of her favorite teachers at West Side has been crucial in these times of doubt, too. When doubts arise, Anderson finds solace in chemistry teacher Reginald Paige’s encouraging words: “What I have to say does really matter.”
Likewise, math teacher Stanley Keller, she said, “changed my life, especially academically,” by weaving real-life applications into his lessons and preparing her to do well on the SAT.
She credits them for sparking her interest in becoming a teacher. Although she dreams of earning a doctorate, she said the latter half of this year will be all about enjoying everything that comes with being a college freshman (she doesn’t know which school she’ll attend yet, but hopes it’ll be an HBCU).
For her, this really means learning how to relax — and holding off on taking leadership positions for a little while.