Flavia Nunez is a 2021 scholar hailing from Miami, Florida. This August, she started courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received the Morehead-Cain scholarship, a full ride scholarship focused on providing life-changing extracurricular learning experiences. As a part of this scholarship, Flavia spent her summer participating in a number of first-time experiences including flying to Washington state to go mountaineering alongside a group of her peers. 

Aside from preparing for college, Flavia spent her summer taking beach trips with her family, reflecting on her senior year and her time with BSP. Flavia’s community change project focused on improving literacy for immigrant and foster children in her community through immersive festivals and free libraries, called ‘book ovens’. Her BSP project allowed her to act on her belief that words have great power and the reason she had the confidence to succeed in school as an immigrant child.  

Flavia is grateful to BSP and the sense of community it gave her, as well as the priceless lessons she learned which she hopes to carry into her first year of college where she will be choosing a major, building a new community, and continuing to figure out how to bring change to her community.  

Questions and Answers with Flavia: 

Share a favorite memory from when you were a Scholar: My favorite memory was a workshop with Storytellers for Change where we learned how to tell a good story. As practice, each participant shared a personal story. I had never been in a more accepting and vulnerable space, and I felt heard. Stories make humans complex, and, to this day, I treasure that memory of listening to others come alive telling their own stories. 

What inspires you? When justice is served and when injustice is avenged. Explosive sunrises. The library on rainy days. The little girl at my bookstore internship who asked me, “can you help me find a book with magic?” 

Complete this sentence, “If you really knew me, you would know….” how lactose intolerant I am. It’s painful to admit that I haven’t had ice cream in years. 

If you had a theme song, what would it be and why? “Save The Best for Last” by Vanessa Williams. This song puts into words what I had been struggling to say for a long time: Sometimes the things you don’t expect come at the right time, and the things that are good for you will take their time. The song describes a lot of what’s happened in my life, and it's so comforting to know at a time (college!) when getting comfortable with the unknown and undiscovered is necessary. 

Reflecting on a challenge you have faced, what was a choice you made during that time and the change that occurred because of it? A recent challenge I’ve had to face was deciding where to attend college. I asked every important person in my life to tell me what they thought, and they each said the same thing: This must be your decision. For someone who has always relied on the opinions of multiple people, it was tough to make my very first “adult” choice. Ultimately, I’m confident I made the right one and I am proud to be a Tar Heel! 

At this moment in your life, what are you most proud of? The bond I have with my family. As I write this, they are driving back home after helping me move into my dorm for my first year of college. They are my best friends, and I already miss them so much. 

Describe the last moment you remember feeling truly joyful. For the past couple of weeks, my Abuela has been teaching me how to cook. Whenever I’m with her in the kitchen, all my worries disappear. I haven’t burnt anything—yet. 

If you had a podcast, what would it be about? Most definitely villains in popular fiction. Sometimes, authors form such multifaceted villains that they deserve nothing less than a full analysis. Besides—the dark side always has more fun. And more cookies. 

When was the last time you felt vulnerable in a good way? Mountaineering in the North Cascades this summer. The first few days of our backcountry expedition were the hardest days of my entire life, physically and emotionally. When I was injured, I had to open up to my group in a way I hadn’t before. They accepted me and helped me selflessly, and I learned a valuable lesson: Empathy is the most powerful human trait.  

What is the one thing you’re deeply grateful for right now? Showers. I had never camped before my time in the North Cascades, and I have taken a shower once a day for as long as I can remember, to the point that I took them for granted. It’s safe to say that I won’t take them for granted EVER again. 

We’re blessed to have you as part of the Scholar community. Thank you, Flavia!