As part of Black History Month, FCPS staff recently interviewed Grace Duah, West Springfield High School Class of 2016 graduate and series regular on HBO Max’s Gossip Girl reboot. 

Even though Grace is breaking into the showbiz industry as an actor, she already had quite the legacy within FCPS. Grace describes herself as a “changemaker.” Not only was Grace the student body president in her senior year, but she also co-founded the Black Student Union at West Springfield HS that is still active today. 

She encourages others to follow the popular saying: “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” Grace says she realized in high school and continues to believe that the more involved she can be, the more she can bring about change.

When facing adversity, Grace says that she allows herself to acknowledge and feel the low feelings before bouncing back. “The worst thing to do is [to] not let yourself feel the emotion that you are feeling,” she says. “Feel the sadness and then use it as fuel to get back up on your feet.”

Grace as a pushy Hollywood manager in a Virginia High School League one-act play at West Springfield High School alongside her best friend, Brittany Padgett.

Grace credits her high school theater program as playing a large role in her professional success. “If I did not attend West Springfield and have the experience I had, I don’t know if I would be in show business today,” she says. “FCPS appreciates the arts.”

Among her heroes, Grace names her Irving Middle School Theatre Teacher Timothy King and her West Springfield High School Theatre Teacher Bernie DeLeo. Referring to her path to success, Grace adds, “Mr. King laid down the cement, and Mr. DeLeo paved [the way].”

Grace with her theatre teacher, Bernie DeLeo, at West Springfield High School. Mr. DeLeo currently teaches at Marshall High School.

In Grace’s personal life, her heroes are her parents, Maya Angelou, and "all Black women that grace the big screen: Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, Raven Simone, Maxine Shaw, and Tia and Tamera Mowry," to name a few.

Grace says, “My biggest advice [to students] is that you are enough as you are right now; not when you get older or go to college. Don’t judge your excitements and joys based on [the measure of] someone else. Sometimes you’re a chai latte trying to be a matcha. Don’t ever stop being yourself."