Michelana Howard

Michelana was born in the Bronx and raised in Hudson. Michelana was a teenager at the time of this interview. She tells the interviewer that it is boring growing up in Hudson. That there used to be teen clubs but those are gone now and that there isn’t really anything to do in Hudson for teenagers. She says other people like it here but if you are from here you won’t like it. She likes going to high school basketball games or the skate park and being with her friends. She tells the interviewer that there is more for boys to do in town than there is for girls.

Michelana talks about friends of hers, Jasmine Walker and Mike, who are like mother- and father-figures to her, she says. She tells the narrator that these people look out for her and her friends and are good role models. She talks about going to the Bridge Program in 10th grade, which is now called Warren Street Academy. The program assists students in preparing for college. She talks about certain teachers she likes and how her mood changes when she goes to school. She talks about how these certain supportive teachers helped her get through school. She talks about being proud of finishing school and how difficult the Regents Exams were. She says these exams were too much pressure because you have to pass them in order to graduate.

She talks about going to church as a kid but then losing faith in her pastor after he stole from their church. Michelana talks about being a blunt person and telling people what she thinks and feels. She talks about applying to community college to become a paralegal. She says her mother wants her to go to college but she thinks she might stay at home for a while to work and save up and help her mother with her younger brothers. She talks about wanting to do things on her own, without her mom’s help.