Name: Semora Ward
Year: 2th
Major: Pre-Med Student, Psychology Major
Hometown: Hampton, VA
Get to know this week’s campus celebrity and incredible young lady, Semora Ward. Only a second year on grounds, Semora really seems to understand the value of helping others by taking advantage of the opportunities placed in front of her. She said, “I just see such a desperate need for kindness, love and service in the world” as she spoke about the work she does with Student Helping Honduras. Learn more about her and her involvements in the university in this week’s edition of UVA’s Campus Celebrity!
What are you involved in around grounds?
I currently am a volunteer at Martha Jefferson through Madison House in the Intensive Care Unit. I’m also involved in on-grounds arts programs. I’m in the dance minor program which is awesome and gives me a lot of incredible opportunities. This semester I will be performing in the Department of Dance Spring Experimental Concert. I also am Trip Co-Coordinator for the UVa Chapter of Students Helping Honduras, an international service organization dedicated to ending poverty and gang-violence through education.
Why are you involved with these organizations? How do they add to your experience at UVA?
I danced for around 11 years, then quit to play volleyball and participate in other sports at my high school. I knew when I got to school I would want to take a fun fitness course so I went out on a limb and auditioned for a ballet class, even though it had been a few years since I danced. I got into the course and fell back in love with dance! Also, I have always had an extreme desire to serve and help others. I can’t really explain it, I just see such a desperate need for kindness, love and service in the world. Happiness never decreases by being shared, helping others will never take anything from me, and only good things come from a giving heart.
Why did you decided to get involved with your community service work in Honduras? International Service?
I was bit by the travel bug at an early age. I knew that in college I would be presented with opportunities for international service, which would give a meaningful purpose to the travels I was already destined to go on. During the activities fair my first year, I picked up a million and one fliers, none of which however were for SHH. I remember I was talking with one of my hallmates to make dinner plans and she told me she had a meeting for a service trip to Honduras. I knew I grabbed a flier that had said something about Honduras so I figured I just missed an email and decided to go with her. I got to the meeting and realized that SHH definitely wasn’t one of the clubs on my list, but by the end of the meeting I had fallen in love and knew that I ended up exactly where I need to be.
The mission of SHH is to help end poverty and gang violence through education and youth empowerment. As the meeting went on, I learned more and more about the poor state of education in Honduras and facts that are simply alarming. In Honduras, compulsory education ends after 3rd grade. The nation is the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with the largest gang epidemic on the planet. This information really troubled me. Here I was beginning my first year of university at one of the most prestigious institutions in the country and if I had been born somewhere else, I may not have been able to go past elementary school. I decided that night to become a dedicated member of SHH so that other kids in impoverished nations could have the chance to receive an education just as I had.
What are you most looking forward to this Spring Semester?
One of my friends had a vision to start a club called Helping Hoos, which is a peer counseling and support program dedicated to helping fellow students with various issues such as mental health, sexual assault, and issues of identity. A few others and I have been working to help him and, after our fair share of obstacles, it’s finally about to take off! I’m so excited to finally see that program get going, as I think it will be really beneficial to a lot of people. College is great, but everyone struggles with things and everyone needs support and Helping Hoos wants to be able to provide that support to those who need it.
Rapid Fire Questions
Favorite show? A three way tie between Gossip Girl, The Office and 24
Celebrity crush? A$AP Rocky
Scott Stadium or JPJ? That’s tough but I’m going to go with Scott Stadium
Favorite color? Pink
Favorite movie? The Devil Wears Prada