(Winter 2020) – Ta’Jae Brown remembers her early middle school years as a triangulation consisting of her home in Bayview, The San Francisco School, and SMART’s offices in Civic Center – all quite far away to her current life nearly 3,000 miles across the country. She is now completing her final semester at Howard University and her internship with the D.C. Superior Court’s Child Guidance Clinic.
She speaks warmly about her mother discovering SMART when Ta’Jae was in 4th grade, and how she quickly made friends with other Scholars experiencing a similar transition to new schools. “It was nice having other Scholars at SFS with me. I became really close with them.”
Ta’Jae is the first generation in her family to attend college, and the path there began early on with her mother’s commitment to providing Ta’Jae educational opportunities. At SFS, she thoroughly enjoyed her teachers and refreshing curriculum, particularly the intentional exposure to the arts. Twice a week, she would shuttle to SMART with her peers in the Middle School Achievement Program, savoring the workshop discussions about identity and social justice.
The Browns sought further opportunities when it came to high school exploration, utilizing SMART’s enrollment resources for applying for admission and financial aid. Ta’Jae’s mother continued to pave the road for Ta’Jae to keep learning and growing on her way to college, and she received a four-year scholarship to San Francisco Waldorf High School. There, Ta’Jae excelled and became interested in shaping school culture. She started Waldorf’s first Black Student Union, creating a space for students to socialize and create awareness around Black culture in their community.
Meanwhile at SMART, Ta’Jae immersed herself in the college application process, using her college advisor at SMART to assist with exploration, college applications, and financial aid processes. “SMART had been talking about college since the beginning of my time there, so I was always thinking about it. And in 7th grade, it became my dream to go to Howard University.”
Ta’Jae made her dream a reality and was awarded a scholarship to Howard University in spring of 2016. As a psychology major, she continued her pattern of creating opportunity and sought an internship with a mental health focus. Through one of her professors, Ta’Jae interviewed with a clinician at the D.C. Superior Court, Child Guidance Clinic and began her internship in July 2019.
Working in the department’s Juvenile Behavioral Diversion Program is precisely where Ta’Jae wants to be. “This research I’m doing is important to providing mental health resources to those who need it and don’t have a voice.”
Ta’Jae is currently applying to graduate programs and various jobs while she decides between pursuing a career in clinical psychology or social work. And while her next exciting step after graduation is yet to be determined, it is evident that she is committed to creating change and opportunity in the world, especially for minority communities.
She wants to build a future where mental health care is more accessible and affordable for those in need. “People in our court system are often demonized–and I want to bring the humanity back,” she says.
