The Next Step: Sir Price II

The Messenger revisits four seniors to see if their goals and aspirations have changed since last September. This is the story of Sir Price II.

Photo Courtesy of Sir Price II

Manasa Premanand, Features Editor

Navigating through senior year in the midst of a pandemic can be difficult - the lack of interaction with classmates and teachers coupled with the stress of applying to college can lead many succumb to the pressure during their final year of high school. However, senior Sir Price has overcome such obstacles as he enters his final days of high school.

Price’s journey at Northview has been dedicated to furthering his experiences in his various passions. He is a fervent advocate for the Black community and has worked throughout his high school years in order to address the injustices it faces. This year, he founded the nonprofit Sir’s Black Student Network (SBSN) to support Black students. Additionally, after being inspired by the social unrest of last summer, he wrote and released the song “Say Their Names” under his artist name Kyng Kobra which he streams on all platforms.

During his time at Northview, Price has learned several important life lessons and made meaningful relationships with many of his teachers. Camillie Janess, an environmental science teacher at Northview, and Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, a biology teacher, have both had a significant impact on Price during his time at Northview. 

“They have both taught me a great deal of knowledge, not only about science, but about life in general. They really connect and empathize with their students,” Price said. “They give fantastic advice, and help their students in any way possible.”

As for his favorite classes, Price enjoyed taking language arts courses due to his passion for writing. Literature was an outlet for his feelings and provided him with a way to express himself. However, as an advocate for the Black community, Price was wholly disappointed by the lack of African-American literature in the language arts curriculums. 

“I wish our schools’ language arts teachers would begin to include more African-American Literature, along with more books written by Black authors in their list of required course curriculums,” Price said. “I feel that our required reading list in Language Arts, as well as our history curriculums should be more inclusive, and should mimic the way our society looks.”

Reflecting back on his time at Northview, Price is grateful for the opportunities the school provided him––whether it be travelling to Yale University for mock trial, performing in the annual Black History shows, or acting in several theater productions, these are times that he will cherish for the rest of his life. Yet, Price also notes that while Northview may have its benefits, it has its flaws as well. He believes that the stigma surrounding race, political beliefs, privilege, and other defining factors of students at Northview should be erased. To Price, fostering an inclusive, diverse environment for all types of students at Northview would be ideal.

“Some things that I feel should be improved upon at Northview are the politics, racism, socially stigmatizing certain students, and the privileges that are afforded to some, but not to others,” Price said. 

Despite all this, Price still holds fond memories from his years at Northview. Acting is a passion of his, and one of his most memorable experiences during high shcool, he recalls, was starring as the two characters “Cedric” and “Mr. Voldy” in the theatre production “Puffs.” He also enjoyed being a part of the football team, hosting International Night, and attending school dances. 

Although the pandemic caused many of these classic senior-year school events to be cancelled, and many people’s lives went into disarray, Price looks back upon this year as a learning experience, one that taught him many valuable lessons in life.

“Over the last year with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, I have learned to be a lot more intentional about getting things done and more disciplined when it comes to things that are mandatory, such as wearing masks and staying home and staying safe,” Price said. 

As his senior year comes to an end, Price is confident that he has left behind an unforgettable legacy at Northview. During his time at school, he has had to face the prejudice and preconceived notions many held regarding him; however, Price persevered in the face of these hardships and thrived at Northview. 

“After my freshman year, most people at Northview thought they had me figured out, and thought they knew my limitations,” Price said. “What I’m most proud of is how I was able to dispel stereotypes, negative expectations, and presumptions that others had of me. After doing so, I continued to raise the bar and shatter limitations.”