Exonian Profiles
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When Shana Harris ’92 stepped onto the Exeter campus as a graduate of Prep for Prep—the New York–based organization that helps prepare promising minority students for academically demanding independent schools—she knew she was in the right place. Harris wanted a school she could call home, a place where she could explore her interests and grow as an individual. “I felt an immediate connection,” she says. “Prep for Prep prepared me well for Exeter, but the cornerstone of my Exeter experience was being in a safe, nurturing environment with instructors and peers who encouraged, challenged and inspired me to define myself and the person I wanted to become.” Today, as Prep for Prep’s director of undergraduate affairs, Harris leads other gifted and talented students towards those same opportunities. Together with her five-person staff, she helps Prep for Prep alumni/ae make the most of their college experiences. Prep for Prep was founded in 1978 by Gary Simons, whose goal was to “identify and nurture a generation of leaders.” Explains Harris: “Our strategy is to find students who are not represented in the ‘power classes’ of American society and help them to cultivate their leadership potential through academic and professional opportunities.” Prep for Prep students participate in a rigorous 14-month preparatory program before being placed in independent day or boarding schools; once enrolled at their new school, they receive ongoing counseling and support from the program. Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx and Washington Heights, Harris understands the transition Prep for Prep students make leaving home to attend boarding school. “When I first arrived at Exeter,” she recalls, “I was happy to see other students of color. That took away the tremendous pressure of being a pioneer. Since the community was one where diversity was already established and supported, I felt instantly comfortable there.” An early friend and role model was English instructor Peter Greer ’58, her Junior Studies teacher. “Whether we had discussions during or after class, we connected and he helped me feel that I belonged at Exeter.” Harris went on to attend Yale, and received her B.A. in Latin American studies in 1996. After working briefly as a journalist, she joined Prep for Prep in 1998. “It’s been a great experience,” she says, “and I’ve learned so much from my students and colleagues.” As director of undergraduate affairs, she helps students pursue their goals and take advantage of the opportunities college life offers. “Some days I can be a little tough on the students,” she says. “I am always supportive, but I challenge them. ‘Why are you involved in x?’ ‘What do you want to gain from y?’ ‘Why aren’t you doing z?’ Their answers are important. I try to help students see how the decisions they make affect them in the long run.” Harris had the opportunity to reflect on similar questions herself when Gary Simons asked her to contribute a chapter about her experiences at Exeter to Be the Dream: Prep for Prep Graduates Share Their Stories (Algonquin Books, 2003). “My time at Exeter taught me to make decisions, to determine my place in the world. It was like traveling abroad. Exeter allowed me to see my culture, family and myself from a different perspective for the first time.” As for the future, Harris hopes to continue writing and to “bring opportunities to ‘average’ students. There are several programs in New York for high-achieving or at-risk kids, but there is little for the average student. If high expectations and great opportunities are given to those students, they too can soar.” —Alice Ann Gray |
