Breonna Massey
Year: Sophomore
Major: Government and Politics
Hometown: Baltimore City, MD
What’s something people don’t know about you?
Most people wouldn’t know that I write poetry. I’m also actually really shy, even though most people think I’m really outgoing.
What are you involved with on campus?
Echelon Fashion Society.
What is Echelon?
Echelon is a modeling group on campus that does community service, does self-esteem building, and promotes black beauty.
Why did you choose Echelon?
Often times black women aren’t taught to be beautiful. Black women have been isolated out of the conversations surrounding beauty and haven’t been able to access beauty. It’s all about reclaiming beauty and taking something that was stolen from you back. Black women have had their identities as women stripped from them and Echelon is working to rebuild that. It’s a place for girls to express their inner and outer beauty.
Most of us have natural hair. It shows that you can be naturally beautiful. It shows that being black is good. And that’s important. Many of our girls walk down the runway with their afro, or braids, or weave.
What are you main goals as a student on this campus?
I think one of my main goals is to build connections and to make a change. I feel like the atmosphere on this campus can be hostile when talking about diversity. My goal is to help create a sense of diversity within our daily interactions and community.
As a government and politics major, what do you see yourself doing going forward?
I see myself going to law school. Once I’m a big time lawyer, I want to be a representative for people who are less fortunate and can’t afford lawyers. Back in my city, a lot of people went to jail or dealt with criminal charges because they couldn’t afford a lawyer. So I want to defend people or start a non-profit to help those people.
Do you have any advice for your fellow college women?
Stay true to you. Don’t let this world dictate who you are. Don’t let this world put you in a place where you don’t want to be. You can do whatever you want to do and be whoever you want to be.