KaCheena Lucas

“I believe that my 20s are for discovery and I am still searching for answers. Prior to making the decision to come to the Brown School, my heart was already set on my first choice located in New York City. It was a 30-minute commute from home and everything about it seemed perfect. It was not until a week before classes were about to start that I realized that it was not the place for me. Excited and nervous, I made the decision to attend grad school hundreds of miles away from home. I was able to take a year off before starting at the Brown School to prepare myself for this new chapter. I am learning that being content and comfortable isn’t going to get me very far and that if I never leave my comfort zone, I would never experience growth.

During my deferral year, I struggled with my identity and finding my purpose in the world. A couple years prior, I learned about my Native American ancestry that I never knew existed. I can honestly say that I am still struggling with what that means to me and what it means to be part native. Being at the Brown School has made me challenge who I am as a person and how I choose to identify myself. Fortunately, the Buder Center is giving me the opportunity to explore my Native identity and discover more about myself.”