Keneisha Is Resilience Personified

Hello everyone! My name is Keneisha, and I’m a student at South Columbus Elementary School.

This is my second year in the River City Race Program, and I decided to come back because last year was really about learning… but this year, I want to build on everything I learned.

If I’m being honest, I almost didn’t come back. Last year didn’t turn out the way I expected, and I felt a little discouraged. But I’ve never been the kind of person to give up on a challenge. So I told myself, “Try again.” And I’m so glad I did.

This program has helped me discover so much about myself. I’ve learned that I actually enjoy using tools and building things with my hands. I understand now how math connects to how fast and well our cars perform. And every week, I feel myself getting stronger, not just in building, but in working with a team and speaking up, even when I feel shy.

I’ve built great relationships with my teammates, and I really enjoy working with the engineers from Pratt & Whitney. They’ve shown me what’s possible, and now I think I might want to be an engineer one day too.

I want to say thank you to my Principal, Dr. Griffin, for recommending me for this program. And thank you to my mom and my sister for encouraging me to stay in the race, even when I felt like giving up.

Right now, I’m raising money to help cover my race expenses, including my registration, derby car kit, tools, and race day materials. Every contribution helps me get one step closer to reaching my goals.

Thank you so much for your support. I promise to race with all my heart—for myself, my team, and my community.

I’ll see you on race day! 💙