A&E

SZA at Columbia High School

A&ESZACHS 425/400
Leandra Holmes

Photo Courtesy of SOHH.com 

Columbia High School, (CHS), is home to many stars and phenomenal people. From graduates to students that attend at this moment CHS breed these amazing people to have amazing careers. One of the stars breeded would be SZA, Solana Imani Rowe.  Sza was born in St. Louis before she moved to Maplewood and attended Columbia High School. She was a participant in Special Dance and she was even a CHS Cougar Cheerleader. She graduated high school in 2008. Her debut album, Ctrl, was released in 2017 and has since gone platinum. She was even nominated 5 times for a grammy in 2017. For many people, it was a surprise to see Sza on the Columbia stage, staring and waving back at them. For others, it was refreshing to see that the rumors were true; that Sza was actually in the building.

She encouraged the students here at CHS to “design their own world.” She told them to pave their own way because at the end of the day, that is all that matters. As she continued to speak, the topic was then changed to her experience here at Columbia. She gave a few teachers shout-outs, spoke about her frequent truancy, and even her getting bullied. She proceeded to speak about how she was not very popular and how she was teased and called names. She even mentioned the fact that she did not go to her prom due to the fact that she did not have any friends, therefore, no one to go with her. 

She then reassured the students that she wanted to be here, 2 years ago, but they would not let her come. Why? Because [faculty] were afraid of “the things that would come of out my mouth.” She encouraged students to continue defying society and to keep believing in the things that they believe in.

At the second assembly, she asked the students to help her sing her hit The Weekend. That was a pleasant surprise to many seeing as SZA has problems with her vocal chords. Through a huge crowd in front of the stage, she asked everybody to back up and then dropped down in front of them. She took pictures with them.

The assembly ended with SZA telling everyone that she loved them and to “continue spreading love and peace.” She was given a plaque and flowers for her induction into the Hall of Fame. An additional inductee and close friend of SZA will be coming to the school on Thursday, June 7.