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Makshya Lenia Tolbert

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: The first summer that Makshya Tolbert was a Young Scholar she attended the National Student Leadership Conference on Medicine and Healthcare. It was an important event for what DIDN’T happen as well as for what DID happen. “I learned two things from that trip,” Makshya recalled.  “First, I realized I had no career path in Medicine. Second, I learned that I was good at adapting to change and loved meeting new people.”  Just about everything Makshya did with the Foundation’s support she’d consider a “highlight.”  There was Civic Week in New York, a session at the Center for Talented Youth music program and finally, her first visit to the Stanford campus (her future alma mater) in the summer of 2010 and participation in a creative non-fiction writing program. In between was an immersion trip to South Africa through a group called Experiment in International Living. Looking back, one of the greatest highlights was the opportunity to build friendships and be inspired by people wherever she went. 

Profile: Makshya comes from the Washington, DC area and is a strong, confident young woman with a passion to succeed and make a positive difference in the world.  After high school she’ll leave the East Coast for the West Coast.  Her tremendous academic success and an acceptance to Stanford “has been the culmination of my own hard work, my belief in myself, and the support and love of those I care about most.” Makshya was an honor student at the H-B Woodlawn Alternative Program in Northern Virginia and served on the student council, was principal oboist in the school wind ensemble, and was involved with her first and last musical, Guys and Dolls.  When not at school (she was also a three-year member of the Ultimate Frisbee Team), this Young Scholar could be found volunteering her time with the Arlington (VA) Street People’s Assistance Network and several other organizations in the area.  

Inspiration: A certain amount of credit for Makshya’s accomplishments goes to her grandmother, “who has unknowingly been the undercurrent of anything I accomplish.”  As far as educators, Makshya is quick to mention her mentor at H.B. Woodlawn, Ms. Casey Robinson (an H.B. alum herself) who “continues to motivate me on my lifelong goal to change the world.” 

Aspiration: The time Makshya spent at the Foundation’s Civic Week program in New York City had a dramatic impact on her future plans.  “The week-long program centered on Law and Social Justice gave me opportunities to do service throughout New York City and learn the basics of law and social advocacy.” Civic Week inspired Makshya to learn more about issues involving race, education, America’s criminal system and issues surrounding identity. Currently, she wants to pursue a career in education reform. 

Making a Difference: As she wraps up her senior year, Makshya plans to spend her senior project designing the curriculum for a class centered around forming individual racial identities, and later analyzing the way that race intersects several aspects of American society. She is excited about formulating the curriculum and hoping to see it as an elective in the years to come. 

Accolades: A member of the National Honor Society at her high school, Makshya was also elected President of the Arlington County Student Advisory Board.  Early in her senior year the College Board National Achievement Scholarship recognized her as an outstanding participant.  Makshya was recognized by the Civic Coalition for Minority Achievement for her outstanding body of work throughout her high school career and twice received a STAR Merit Scholarship. 

Interesting Fact: “The pronunciation and spelling of my first name serves as a conversation starter wherever I go!”

 

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