The small things add up feat. Mercerdes Modeste

Bringing awareness to topical issues, such as gender-based violence, inequality, racism, etc. through artivism and by taking up space in her school community is what you can expect from this powerful female and guess what...guess what!? She’s only sixteen! Just amazing. I’m so excited to share today’s feature with you. Most may know Mercerdes Modeste as someone who has served her school in the capacity of Head Girl, an active member of her church community and as an artist, but today we’re taking a deep dive and finding out what makes this young lady tick. This article will explore some pivotal moments and how they shaped her life, her passion for activism and what she learned from her role models.

In one’s life, some moments just stay with you. You remember how they made you feel and you recall how your perspective of things changed. Mercerdes recalls a moment where she received devastating news, another where she was treated unfairly and highlighted how she was affected by the pandemic, as significant experiences in her life. She remembers being in primary school when she got the news that her grandmother was diagnosed with lupus. This news was rather difficult to stomach because her grandmother played, and still plays, a significant role in her life and was/is very instrumental in her development. This taught her the importance of staying connected to the ones you care about and to never take anything or anyone for granted. While this was happening, she was also bullied at school for her skin color, hair, body...Wow, kids are so mean! Definitely, something that no child should have to endure. She was made to feel self-conscious and her confidence was shattered for some time. While at high school she was resolved to take her power back. She decided that people who tried to diminish the confidence of others were not worth her time. She instead focused her energy upon building others up, as she knew first-hand what it was to tear someone down. Since then, she has contributed in various ways to her school community. Being so active at school is probably why she is left feeling the way she does during these unprecedented times. “I don’t even like the cafeteria but I miss the cafeteria,” she says as she recalls missing the simple things. She says that the pandemic has brought with it some major adjustments in how she navigates her studies. This added stress made it imperative for her to take care of her mental health. This time has also taught her that as much as we may plan our lives, God unplans it when He sees fit.

When you google the word ‘Activism’ the definition stated is: “the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.” Being resilient, emotionally strong and being a change-maker are major components of activism. These qualities can also be used to describe Mercedes. From being a part of a club called ‘Girls Be Heard’ to now piloting a program that brings awareness to gender-based violence called ‘Break the Cycle- Be Your Sister’s Keeper’, this girl is blazing the trail for other gender-conscious females. Mercerdes credits understanding her femininity and seeing how women are portrayed in the media as a strong catalyst for her to speak out. She states that in our Caribbean culture, women are objectified and that a myopic beauty standard is perpetuated which are some attributes of gender-based violence. She specifically mentions the act of cat-calling as being commonplace in our society, which creates feelings of discomfort in everyday spaces.

“It starts with the small things. The small things create bigger things...Then they become the norm.”

She states this line to draw attention to the fact that when the small things go overlooked it can add up and create major issues that would be difficult to treat in the future. She mentions that it is of the utmost importance to speak up and right injustices before they are magnified.

But where does all this fire and passion come from?

Someone wise said, “no man is an island.”...but let’s rewrite it and say, ‘no woman is an island'. This rings true for Mercerdes as she has a solid support system that assists with encouraging, guiding and preparing her for life. She credits the love, wise words and lessons of close friends and family as being instrumental in shaping who she is. She says there are too many people to name so she classifies them into family and friends who are like family. She says that the role models in her life helped her to accept who she is and pushed her to become the fullest version of herself. Once again, her grandmother was spotlighted for sharing her story of faith. Her grandmother’s faith, described by Mercerdes as,

‘more than a mustard seed’

, helped her to understand that all things are possible through God. She also mentioned the important role that her mother played. She says her mother would always ensure that she received all that she needed to do her best in the world. She learned the importance of sacrificing and witnessed a great example of motherhood from her mother. It is clear to see that she had/has some phenomenal female influences in her life. These persons have all added their piece to the puzzle that is Mercerdes.

It is just so impressive that at sixteen this young lady already has such a powerful story to share with the world, imagine what it would be like in the next ten years! No pressure, Mercerdes! But on the real, this story reiterates the value that each person, and the people around them, add to the world. Mercerdes’ story showcases resilience, activism, support, faith, power and so much more. I left the interview with so many nuggets and I hope you can step away from this blog with some too. This story paints the picture that it is never too early to start making an impact in your family and by extension all the communities in which you are placed. In whatever way you can contribute, do it! As always, I leave you with this question: How do you want to be remembered?