Belonging, Breakthroughs, and Building the Future: My KIPP Story

_{*Nafisa’s story as told by Andy Santiago}

My name is Nafisa Adams and I grew up in San Francisco, a city that was ever changing. In 2011, I started my KIPP journey as a 6th grader at KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy. Before I landed at KIPP, my family and I were exploring different middle school options. My parents emphasized a school that prioritized education and one with students that looked like me and came from similar backgrounds.

I was immediately surrounded by that at KIPP. I felt at home and looked forward to coming to school. One of my favorite traditions at SF Bay was getting with my classmates to form our high school graduation year for a photo. Since sixth grade, I remember seeing a teacher at the top of the stairs with a camera, ready to take the graduating class’ photo. When it was my turn, my friends and I would get into the “2018” formation. I was always so excited to take that picture.

I continued my KIPP journey through high school at KIPP San Francisco College Prep. There, I had the unique opportunity to be one of the founding classes that supported in creating the school’s culture. As a founding class, It was formative to claim space and make waves for future classes at SFCP. In high school, I was also held to a high standard academically, and the staff believed in me. My KIPP Forward college counselor, Natalie, played a critical role in supporting me throughout the college application process in high school. As I navigated this new experience, all of the KIPP staff were encouraging as I prepared to attend UCLA.

When I left for college, I quickly realized that it would be a different experience than what I had in high school. My first year was tough, and after a year, I came back to City College in San Francisco. Even with the college readiness that we received since we were in 6th grade and being a part of college access programs, it was still really difficult to navigate university as a first-generation student. The transition from a small close-knit community to a large and overwhelming school was a lot to process. I needed a break from the big environment.

While taking a break from a four-year university can be scary for people, I remember the lessons KIPP taught me. It is okay to struggle and take a step back when things are difficult. I learned to listen to myself and that taking care of myself and my well-being was just as important as my academic success. That mindset helped me when I transitioned back to UCLA and adapted to new environments, ultimately resulting in my early graduation!

I now work in program management and college access, helping fellow first-generation students achieve their educational goals. My mission is to serve families like mine—families who face similar challenges and need the kind of support KIPP provided for me. I’m passionate about this work because I know what it feels like to need guidance and how transformative it can be to have someone believe in you.

The KIPP community is still an important part of my life. Some of my closest friends today are the ones I met when I was just 12 years old. When I had dinner with my middle school friend a couple nights ago, we reminisced upon our memories at school. We’ve been through so much together, and those friendships remain strong. I’ve also stayed connected with my high school teachers and mentors (shout out Mr. Weidmann and Mr. Anthony!) who have continued to support me over the years. They’ve become lifelong friends and professional peers, and I’m grateful for that network of people who truly care about me and my success.

On top of being involved with my career, I am also a proud parent. I’ve been thinking about her education and her future. When conversing with my partner, we want our daughter to have an affinity based community, while also being a recipient of quality education. I personally found that at KIPP, and I still believe strongly in the KIPP model to foster that sense of community and belonging.