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With the recent passing of Jesse Jackson, the students were reminded of his association with the poem, “I Am Somebody.” They were asked to consider this concept.

 JORDAN…recalls an experience in middle school that helped her identify her true self, and the somebody she wants to be.

I Am Somebody

Being somebody is interpreted differently by everyone. Some people would think social status makes you somebody. Others would say it depends on how you live your life. Did you make any accomplishments? Does anyone recognize you as someone important? There’s one other question that comes to mind. What does it mean to be somebody? The answer is people define their own meaning.

Personally, I’m not sure how I would define somebody. A person’s physical existence could count as being somebody, or their individuality. I struggled at some point with figuring out who I am and what my values are. During my suspension in middle school, I spent a lot of time thinking about myself. How did I get here? Why did I decide to hurt someone else? Those were some pretty big questions to ask. 

I didn’t like the feeling of guilt floating around in my head. The deafening silence of the room made it worse. Even though my environment was tense, I somehow found a bit of peace. I’m not the kind of person to meditate, but I found myself doing so, in my own way. That was hard because I needed to have my mind clear, and I tend to get lost in my thoughts. I wanted to learn how to control my emotions better, so I wouldn’t hurt someone again. In that moment, I found my true self, the somebody that I want to be.

That self reflection happened a few years ago. Now, I feel like I have a clear understanding of who I am. However, I’m still learning things because I haven’t fully grown up yet. Asking yourself who you are is an important question everyone should think about. At the end of the day, everybody is still somebody.

Jordan Smith

February 20, 2026