Junior Braheem Wahid is involved in numerous and notably diverse activities within RHS. He participates in all three sports seasons playing wide receiver on the football team, small forward on the basketball team as well as competing in a few track and field events, including the high jump. Braheem is a bass in the school choir, Choralworks, and continues to be an active member in both the Upward Bound program and Project Unity. Above all, he has a passion for the performing arts, most specifically singing and dancing. The Colonel asked Braheem about his interests.

The Colonel: How did your talent as a singer and dancer emerge?

Braheem Wahid: It all kind of came to me, actually. At age five, I realized I just really wanted to be a dancer.

TC: Do you sing in the shower?

BW: Oh yeah. I sing “Snowflakes,” the song we’re singing in class and the songs on American Idol.

TC: What music would most likely be in your CD player?

BW: Michael Jackson or anything R&B. Anything with a peaceful mindset.

TC: Who has been your greatest inspiration?

BW: Michael Jackson or my brother, Rasshan.

TC: Why do you love the performing arts?

BW: I love being on the stage because of the energy that moves through me. Dancing is amazing because you can feel the music.

TC: What was your best moment this football season?

BW: My touchdown. My only touchdown, against Field.

TC: How do you prepare for a big game or show?

BW: I was taught not to be nervous, stage-wise, but on the football field I’m always nervous. Thinking helps calm me down before a show. You can’t be afraid to mess up. On the field, I pray before every play. It helps me relax.

TC: What has been your most embarrassing moment?

BW: I sang the Star Spangled Banner once. Everything was going well, but when I hit the high note, my voice cracked. I haven’t sung the Star Spangled Banner since, but I’m over that fear now.

TC: How high can you jump?

BW: Six feet and four inches.

TC: Would you rather be drafted by the NFL or make it big as a performer?

BW: Make it big as a performer. I’ve wanted to do this since I was little. I’ve been practicing my autograph since seventh grade. There isn’t a single piece of paper in my backpack that doesn’t have my autograph on it.



Junior Ashley Lillvis is not only a devoted Prom chair and band member, but she also goes out of her way to serve the Kent community. Each week, Lillvis takes time out of her busy schedule to help those in need. The Colonel decided to get to know her a little better and to give Roosevelt to opportunity to learn more about an exciting member of the RHS community.



TC: What’s your favorite song on the radio?

AL: I like to listen to mainstream terrible rap from time to time, but I really like Regina Spector’s song “Infidelity.”

TC: What’s one of the silliest things you did as a child?

AL: I used to go into the utility room and I used to lick those nine volt batteries.

TC: How did you get started with community service?

AL: I’ve always wanted to do something related to the soup kitchen, and it just seemed like such a good thing to do. There’s not a lot of awareness in Kent. You don’t really think of needy people.

TC: How are you currently serving?

AL: I go every Thursday now up to Stanton and I spend an hour with this girl and help her study for tests. It’s not that she can’t do it, it’s just [finding] the motivation to do it. A lot of the kids are really intelligent there, but they just don’t have a good support system at home.

TC: What’s the most touching experience you’ve had through community service?

AL: Just seeing the gratitude on people’s faces when you hand them their food. It really made me step back and not think about my needs and my wants because theirs are so much simpler.

TC: What’s the most challenging part of planning Prom right now?

AL: Trying to get people involved and just the whole organization of it because so many people are involved in so many other activities.

TC: Describe the cutest pair of shoes you own.

AL: I really like my gold ballet flats.