It's not completely accurate to say Kaziah Scales was an introvert before she stepped foot in Washburn Rural High School as a freshman.
 
But when she first arrived in the school district in eighth grade, Scales wasn't quite her usual outgoing self.
 
"I was kind of scared," she said. "Everybody already had their groups from seventh grade so coming into eighth grade new, I didn't know anybody. And I didn't feel like I fit in with anyone."
 
Her feelings were understandable. After spending the bulk of her youth attending USD 501 district schools, Scales moved to Shawnee Heights in seventh grade. Then she moved to Rural starting in eighth grade.
 
As a teen girl, such change can be difficult. As a minority, it can be even harder.
 
"When I got (to Rural), I was like, 'Where is everybody at?'" said Scales, who is Black. "People that look like me."
 
Scales found exactly what she was looking for when she got to high school, getting involved in athletics as well as social activities like Sources of Strength and the Black Student Union.
 
When she graduates in May, Scales will not only feel completely like herself, but arguably an even better, more enlightened version of who she wanted to be. Scales is this week's Capitol Federal True Blue® Student of the Week.
 
"I think getting involved was so important to where I could feel comfortable," Scales said. "When I got here, I didn't know anybody. But doing everything I've done, I've met so many new people and it's been nice."
 
Erika Green, a school social worker and sponsor for the Black Student Union, remembers Scales' early days at Rural. And she said it doesn't compare to the Scales she now knows and works closely with now that Scales is the president of the BSU.
 
"I feel like it's amazing how she's transformed," Green said. "As a freshman, she and her friends coming into BSU pretty much stayed within themselves. I feel like that she's really come out of her shell. She's more outgoing. Her freshman year, I don't know that she would have gone up and talked to another student about going out for track or something like that. Now, she's really taken on that leadership role where people look up to her and recognize the things that she's done."
 
Indeed, it's been the Black Student Union where Scales has really found her niche at Rural. She joined the club as a freshman and the more she got into the club, the more she began to flourish.
 
"Meeting Ms. Green has been just the greatest thing," said Scales, who got emotional when talking about Green and the BSU. "She sparked me to getting to better know myself and become a leader. And getting to meet everyone else, we've become a big family."
 
She was one of the few active members as a sophomore and junior when COVID-19 restrictions limited the club to mostly virtual meetings. When normalcy returned to the club's ability to meet and hold activities this school year, Scales took on a bigger role than just being a part of the club. She became the club president.
 
With Scales' leadership and ability to attract and relate to fellow students, Rural's BSU membership has gone from roughly 10-15 consistently active members during COVID back to pre-COVID  numbers with more than 50 consistently engaged members and more than 100 students who have participated in some manner.
 
While the majority of students in the BSU are people of color, Green said there are also a number of white students who are involved.
 
"That feels good because they're coming to learn," Scales said. "They can't really talk to some of the stuff that we talk about, but they listen and take that to other people about how we feel and what we go through."
 
Green agreed.
 
"I usually put a survey up at the end of the year about 'What did you like? What did you learn? What did you want to do more of?'" Green said. "For our students who are white, they're usually like, 'I didn't realize the privilege I have or that people are discriminated against because of their color.' It's awesome to see them be able to learn."
 
The "I didn't realize" mantra not only applies to white students when it comes to BSU. Scales found herself saying the same thing as she dove into learning black history and culture beyond the general scholastic teachings.
 
"The history, there was a lot of stuff I didn't know," she said. "Like we used to be kings and queens and I didn't know that at all. I wish we had a black history class. I realized that there was so much more out there."
 
February is Black History Month and Scales has led efforts at Rural to put together a number of activities to honor and celebrate the month. She helped the BSU:
 

• Prepare a series of announcements that are read daily during the month that highlight the important contributions and achievements that African Americans have made in U.S. history.
• Created posters that hang in the hallways consisting of prominent historical figures as well as inspirational quotes that Blacks have made throughout history.
• Provided a lunch-time activity every Friday for students to engage in, including an "I Have a Dream" poster where students can write their dreams of a more just and inclusive society, Black History button-making activity and Black History Month trivia.
• Create and host a Black History Month Spirit Week, which will run from Feb. 21-25.

 
"She has really found her niche and helped create a fun, safe space where students feel as though they can be themselves while engaging in cultural, educational and social initiatives that inspire them to take charge of their future, dismantle stereotypes and build a secure sense of community," Green said of Scales. "Kaziah is just really helpful in getting people to find something that they connect to."
 
Through the BSU, Scales was one of several club members who attended the Kansas State Black Student Union Leadership Conference, which was held Tuesday virtually. She plans to be a part of the Black Student Union at the University of Kansas next year where she will study behavioral sciences.

 
Green said she will undoubtedly miss Scales' presence in the club and school next year.
 
"I feel like our younger students in the club are still kind of learning how the club works," she said. "Once this senior class graduates, I'll miss them a lot. It's been awesome to have Kaziah foster that environment where students of color can come to and be with people they can relate to."
 
In addition to her work with the BSU, Scales also has been involved with Sources of Strength, a school-wide suicide prevention program, since her sophomore year. The program involves adult advisors – be it teachers, counselors or social workers – who work with peer leaders to make connections with students who may be struggling but don't have a trusted adult to help bridge that gap and connect them to one.
 
The sources on the color wheel the program addresses are mental health, family support, positive friends, spirituality, mentors, healthy activities, generosity and medical access. 
 
"We have students try to recognize that while they might not have each one of these strengths, to focus on the ones they do have," Green said. "And then they also try to identify ones they want to improve on."
 
Scales took to that program immediately as well her sophomore year. She helped organize the food pantry, designed a fundraiser shirt and made and distributed trusted adult buttons.
 
"I wanted to do it to build leadership and to pass on and teach other people," she said.
 

Last Friday, she also was a candidate for Rural's 2022 Winter King and Queen royalty. She didn't win, but saw good friend Jaliah Johnson named queen and Quincy Kidd named king as Black students swept the awards.
 
Scales also has served as a freshman mentor, a peer tutor and been a food service aide while also playing basketball as a freshman and sophomore and competing in track and field the last two years. She also finds time to fit in taking two college courses online at Allen County Community College as well as working a part-time job at Chick-Fil-A.
 
"It's just a mindset, setting schedules," she said of the hectic, yet rewarding schedule. "It's just time management, focus and drive. That's something I've learned because I was really unorganized before.
 
"I just learned that I can do anything I put my mind to. It's been awesome being able to become a leader and pass that on to others."