As I walk into my first student council meeting as a timid freshman, I become enthralled by the curated chaos that we call Greatco—I look at the board, and it states: “New freshman, stand up on your desks and say your walkout song.” Soon after I glance at the slide, my stomach instantly ties into a knot. While I step onto my desk, legs shaking uncontrollably, I quietly utter the words “Mo Bamba by Sheck Wes” and the semi-judgemental eyes from 70 other peers, begin to turn into an uproar of laughter.
I’ve struggled with public speaking for as long as I could remember, I’ve had a stutter since I was 6 which has always hindered my speech. But through Enloe Charity Ball, I have not only witnessed the other obstacles numerous people encounter daily—that push me to look at my struggles in a new light, but I have grown to persevere through the impediment that is forever stamped on my tongue.
I can still recall the first day volunteering at the Club Roar Program at Southeast Raleigh Elementary, the Elementary School impacted by South East Raleigh Promise, the selected beneficiary in 2019. And there was one kid who sat alone in the cafeteria while I passed out pre-packaged after-school meals. After I finish volunteering, I decided to talk to him. As I started to converse with him more, I soon realized that he also struggles with a stutter. I began to see a myriad of similarities between us that I also carried in my youth, a strong passion for basketball, superheroes, and a stutter initiated by the beginning of H’s. After our conversation, I saw him rush out to the basketball court with no hesitation to speak with his friends. He didn’t let his stutter negate the process to express a thought or joke with his peers.
The reason I am involved with Charity Ball is for the shared experiences like that. I get to achieve this through my work daily.
On Saturday, December 10th, I will not be afraid to speak in front of the 1500 people presenting the money raised for Alliance Medical Ministry. Instead, I will think back to this conversation, think back to the kid, think back to my first Greatco meeting, and say my speech with the same confidence passed onto me through that short-lived discussion.
Jakai Dickerson
Vice President of Service