The Silver Lining

Growing up in a single-parent household has equipped Jada Aristilde ‘21 with the resilience to adapt to any obstacle that life may hurl her way.

Born in West Palm Beach, Florida to her Jamaican born mother, Jada and her six sisters were raised in three different east coast states. The Washington College Sociology major admits that she’s always felt a great responsibility to provide guidance and support for her siblings and to achieve success in life.

“Moving so often was very difficult on me,” she acknowledged. “Every time I felt like I was getting comfortable, we would end up leaving for one reason or another. However, it was an amazing experience to grow up among a sisterhood and we remain very close today.”

Her unorthodox childhood, Jada believes, has been the silver lining to what has made her the “pioneer” of her immediate family as she became the first to attend college when she began her career in Chestertown in the fall of 2017.

Jada, whose father is Hattian, discovered Washington College when she became a member of the Upward Bound program during her sophomore year of high school in Rochester, New York. She visited the campus twice before applying to become a member of the prestigious Washington Scholars program, which she eventually was accepted into. “I had my heart set on Washington College and it was the only school that I was completely interested in,” Jada revealed. “I loved the vibe on campus and I had the opportunity to speak with many students who were willing to be honest with me about what it was like to be a student here.”

Jada, who also spent time living in Connecticut, had no idea what discipline she would study as a freshman and was delighted that she was introduced to the prerequisite courses that opened her eyes to the numerous possibilities that were in front of her. “I’ve always been very interested in advocating for people, the health industry and history and law,” she stated. “Once I took my first sociology class it just hit me, and I thought that the field would give me the most opportunities for a career after college.”

Along with her primary specialty, Jada is on track to graduate in the spring with a triple minor in Hispanic Studies, Justice Law and Society and Public Health. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

During her sophomore year, Jada performed an internship at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington D.C., an opportunity that was provided and funded through the college’s C.V. Starr Center Explore America Summer Internship program. “It was amazing to actually help people trace their lineage and work behind the scenes at a place that means so much to the black culture.”

The senior studied abroad last semester for two months at the University of Hull in England but had to return back home early due to the pandemic. “I’m very curious about experiencing different cultures and I found the European way of life very refreshing,” said Jada. “The food was amazing, and the sociology and criminology classes were the best part of the entire experience. I can honestly say that I enjoyed learning from the wonderful professors there.”

Outside of her studies, Jada accepted the role as Secretary for Diversity and Inclusion with the Student Government Association last May because she felt that she could make a difference on campus. “The social climate in America today is something that is very important to me,” she declared. “We worked tirelessly during June to create initiatives to figure out what we could do in our own communities and on the Washington College campus to improve race relations. I’m also proud that we were able to effectively advocate for student representation on the search committee to hire our new interim president. I definitely feel like we have more student involvement with some of the key decisions that are being made on campus.”

According to Jada, Washington College is ideal because the institution is certainly a microcosm for the real world, which she sees as a positive thing for any future student looking at the college. “Without my time here, I would not have been able to develop my leadership skills and it’s provided opportunities for hands on learning experiences that are so important for the future. It’s a place that literally gives you a chance to make a difference.”

Jada Aristilde has certainly made an impact in Chestertown.