Angelina Hendren’s senior year looked very different from the ones that came before.
While schoolwork and activities continued, having them online meant she had more time for other pursuits.
“I kept connections with a small group of friends, and I expanded my content — I consumed more news,” she says. “For me, it was about seeing different points of view and seeing what’s going on in the world. I had time to think about how I could help as a person, and how I could be a better person.”
As president of the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society, Hendren led the group through biweekly meetings with mentor partners from DuPont, during which students worked on resume and interview skills, as well as their college applications.
“It was the only leadership position I took — I wanted to focus on that,” she says. “I wanted to be active, be organized and be present. It helped me organize my priorities and my time.”
To relax, Hendren focused on music and writing. Instead of keeping music in the background, she made a point of sitting and reading song lyrics and seeking out new genres. She also spent time writing, primarily fiction.
“I’m excited to finally be 18, to be able to do things on my own,” she says, noting that she plans to study business and communications at VCU.
“This year, I got to know myself better, what my boundaries are, what my limits are,” she says. “I learned that being present in the moment is so important.”
