Makaris

Makaris is a young man with kaleidoscopic interests. 

He is an “ambitious and diligent student” his college advisor says, and has “not only excelled in his regular coursework but has also sought additional challenges through multiple advanced placement classes, adding depth and rigor to his curriculum.”

He’s also been a scientific researcher for the Urban Barcode Project, using DNA technology to explore biodiversity in New York City. It is an experience that will be useful when he studies environmental policy in college. 

And there’s the world beyond academics, where “Makaris has showcased his commitment to community service,” the college advisor wrote. He’s also keen on broadening his worldview, reflected in his travels through central and southern Italy on a full scholarship.

Then there’s meditation, part of Makaris’s “amazing self-care routines,” according to an  administrator of a college preparation program that Makaris has dedicated himself to for a number of years. 

And let’s not forget music and “106 & Park.” Makaris says that watching the  popular hip-hop and R&B music video show was “the catalyst for my infatuation with creating music. Seeing Black musicians delve into R&B, pop and rap fueled me with ambition. I could do that, too.”

And so he has. “Music excites me as there is always room to grow and innovate—and I’m never confined to one entity,” he wrote. “The cool thing about creating music is that it not only helps me express myself but allows me to help others.” He recalled an internship where he “created videos teaching foster kids how to use other music programs like Bandlab and Soundtrap, in hopes that they could find their niche in the vast world of music.”

The mentor that has made the greatest difference in my life is Briana McCall, Program Manager. Briana has consistently taught me the importance of self assurance and well-being. Her guidance has made me comfortable with the uncomfortable, ensuring I continuously persevere amidst setbacks.