Multi-lingual Buffalo student makes lesson videos in five languages for classmates

Multi-lingual Buffalo student makes lesson videos in five languages for classmates

Meet Sekuye Bolende.

She’s a super senior at Lafayette International High School in Buffalo.

WE'RE HIGHLIGHTINGTHE WAYS WESTERNNEW YORKERS AREEMBRACING THBUFFALO STRONGSPIRIT...AND TONIGHT WE'RESHARING THE STORYOF A SENIOR WHO ISBREAKING DOWNLANGUAGE BARRIERSIN AND EFFORT TOBRING US TOGETHER..HERE'S 7 EYEWITNESSNEWS REPORTEROLIVIA PROIA.SEKUYE: THAT WASTHE MOST HAPPIESTMOMENT OF MY LIFE...COMING HEREACTUALLY.MEET SEKUYEBOLENDE-- A SUPER SENIORAT LAFAYETTE HIGHSCHOOL IN BUFFALO.JOHN: SHE REALLYESTABLISHED HERSELFAS A LEADER FROM DAYONE.

GETS ALONGWITH FRIENDS FROMALL DIFFERENTGROUPS, RELYINQUISITIVE.BUT SHE DOESN'TJUST FOCUS ON HEROWN SCHOOL WORK.SHE HELPSTRANSLATE LESSONSFOR ENGLISHLANGUAGE LEARNERS.SEKUYE: I ALWAYSTOLD MY CLASSMATESTHAT I'M THERE FORTHEM IF THEY NEED MEOR THEY HAVE ANYQUESTIONS.NAT VIDEOWHEN SCHOOL WENTREMOTE BACK INMARCH... THINGS GOTMORE DIFFICULT.

SOSHE BEGAN MAKINGVIDEOS FOR HERCLASSMATES...EXPLAINING HOW TOGET THEIR WORKDONE... IN ENGLISH...AND A NUMBER OFOTHER LANGUAGES.SEKUYE: I SPEAK FIVE!HAHA.

ENGLISH,SWAHILI, LINGALA,NGALA AND FRENCHACTUALLY.SEYUKE: I WAS THEONE TRANSLATING INMY FAMILY WHEN ICAME HERE.SEKUYE WAS BORN INCONGO.SEKUYE: I LIVED WITHALL OF MY FAMILY - MYCOUSINS, MY PARENTSAND EVERYONE.

THENALLCOF A SUDDEN WESTARTED HEARING LIKEGUNS AND PEOPLESHOOTING AND ALL OFTHAT.SHE WAS SEPARATEDFROM HER PARENTSFOR A WHILE... UNTILTHEY MOVED TOUGANDA WHEN SHEWAS JUST SEVEN-YEARS-OLD.

INUGANDA... FAMILIESHAVE TO PAY FORTHEIR KIDS TO GO TOSCHOOL.

AND AFTER AWHILE, SEKUYE'SFAMILY COULDN'TAFFORD IT.SEKUYE: IMAGINELIVING IN ANEIGHBORHOODWHERE EVERY KIDGOES TO SCHOOL ANDIT'S ONLY YOU GUYSWHO DON'T GO TOSCHOOL.

THAT WASACTUALLY THE MOSTSAD THING.WHEN SHE WAS 14-YEARS-OLD, HERFAMILY MOV TOBUFFALO.SEKUYE: IAFRICA.

IT'S MOREFREEDOM.

EVERYONEGOES TO SCHOOL ANAT.NOW.

AND PURSUEHER DREAM OFBECOM LIKEDOING IS CARING.CARING IS HE THINGYCLASES.IN BUFFALO, OP