My family and I lost everything to Hurricane Harvey my junior year of high school. I struggled with the stress of displacement and the pressure of being strong for my family. Finding a community of support at my new school made all the difference in recovering from the hurricane. Not only was I able to access donated supplies for my family, but I found academic support and a place to go to talk about my experience.
Find out what I’m made of. Click on the items below to explore my portrait, and hover over the left navigation for more of my story.
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Click to stop the audioI was recently promoted from an operations officer to the commanding officer with my JROTC unit. I love working with younger cadets and I think of them like siblings.
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Click to stop the audioMy junior year of high school was the hardest point in my life. It was the year Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, taking a serious toll on my family and my education. Because of the hurricane, I was a month late starting school and fell behind in my classes.
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Click to stop the audioIn the months following Hurricane Harvey, my family and I turned to our friends and organizations for assistance with shelter, food and other basic needs.
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Click to stop the audioI hope to someday own a funeral home as well as a beauty supply store. I think of myself as a caregiver and I want to make a positive impact on my family and my community.
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Click to stop the audioMy favorite article of clothing is my denim jacket because it represents me. It’s comfortable and goes with everything.
Icetria is a senior at Sterling Aviation High School in Houston, Texas. In 2017, her world was devastated by Hurricane Harvey—but Alma Gutierrez, a site coordinator for Communities In Schools of Houston, became the first person Icetria felt like she could go to with her problems. Since joining Communities In Schools, Icetria has evolved from a very quiet person to an outspoken leader with dreams of someday owning her own business.
What is one thing your Communities in Schools coordinator told you or taught you that you’ll never forget?She taught me how to cope. Sometimes I get overwhelmed because I have a lot on my plate, and I just remember to breathe in, breathe out, as Mrs. Gutierrez would say.
After Hurricane Harvey, I was displaced and separated from my mom and sister, and although it did impact me a lot, it made me grateful for the things I have.
I want the world to know that I’m not perfect.
I don’t think people see that I like to have fun like everyone else. With me being very involved in school and extracurricular activities, sometimes I feel caught between being a hardworking student and a regular teenager.
I think the biggest challenge students face today is being themselves—being comfortable in their own skin and making choices that aren’t influenced by others.
of young adults are disconnected from school and career options are at risk of not achieving a productive adulthood. Belfield, Levin & Rosen, 2012
I’ve always been in love with the structure and stability of the program. It has taught me to be confident in myself and more comfortable as a leader.
I don’t have a favorite genre or type of music, but I LOVE J. Cole.
I love helping others feel better and feel good about themselves.
I’ll help in any way possible, whether it’s babysitting, tutoring, or volunteering. I love helping others feel better and feel good about themselves.
