Tyius Reed did not know what grief was until she lost her father at age 11. Over time, she learned to live with loss and keep moving forward. A move to Madera brought her to Madera South High School, where she found community through the Black Student Union and Ujima Collective. Those experiences helped Tyius find confidence, grow as a leader and connect with students across the district and state. Tyius now uses her voice to advocate for students across her community. She will graduate in the spring of 2027 and plans to major in psychology before attending law school.