Shining Knights: MVHS senior Destiny Adair finds her voice and future in advocacy

Destiny Adair, a 17-year-old Mount Vernon High School senior, has spent much of her life learning how to speak up — and just as importantly, when not to back down.

She describes herself as someone who wants to be heard even when others might stay quiet. That instinct, forged over years in the classroom, on teams and in her community, is now guiding her toward a future in law.

“I feel like I always want to have a voice,” Destiny said. “I don’t want anybody to suppress my voice. I’ll say what I feel like needs to be said, even in times when people think it shouldn’t be said.”

She began her education at Emmanuel Children’s Mission School before attending Graham School and Amani Public Charter School. Eventually, she arrived at MVHS, where she has continued to push herself academically.

She started in the Honors Program and later advanced into the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which she describes as a significant personal milestone.

“I feel like that’s an accomplishment for me because that’s a very hard, rigorous course,” she said.

Her IB coursework has included sports, exercise and health science, psychology, history and English. For much of her early life, she envisioned a future in medicine, so she joined the Career and Technical Education nursing program. 

But during her sophomore year, she started to reconsider what truly suited her interests and personality.

“I realized that is not for me,” she said of pursuing a career as a doctor or nurse. “I don’t want to be taking care of people like that, and I don’t want to go to school for that long.”

Still, she chose to remain in the nursing program, working toward certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). For Destiny, the decision reflects a broader philosophy about learning and growth.

“I think that helps with transferable skills,” she explained. “You’re able to take different things you learn and transfer it to something else. It also helps with your people skills.”

Those skills, she believes, will carry directly into her future in law — particularly in areas such as medical malpractice or criminal justice, fields she is currently considering.

The connection may not seem obvious at first glance, but for Destiny, it makes perfect sense.

“In nursing, you’re interacting one-on-one with people, helping them with daily living,” she said. “In law, I’m going to be advocating for people. That’s how they come together.”

Her interest in law grew gradually, sparked in part by her natural inclination to debate and stand firm in her beliefs.

“A lot of people say I’m argumentative,” she said. “I stand in what I believe.”

Even a teacher once recognized that trait, suggesting she might be better suited for the courtroom than a hospital.

“That got my brain thinking,” she said. “I was like, I kind of like this.”

Beyond the classroom, Destiny has immersed herself in a wide range of extracurricular activities that have helped shape her identity and leadership skills.

She is a member of the National Honor Society and SkillsUSA, participates in track and is actively involved in her church community through the Pathfinder Club. There, she serves as a counselor, mentoring younger members.

“I’ve been in the club since I was around 11 years old, and now I’m teaching them,” she said. “That’s very important because it aids in their development. They’re able to see somebody not their age, but still young, helping them and teaching them.”

She also participates in her church’s drum corps, which stands out as one of her most meaningful experiences.

“I like drum corps the best because I’ve been in it since eighth grade,” she said. “I’ve seen my progression and my growth.”

Across all her activities — whether academic, athletic or community-based — one theme emerges: connection.

“It’s given me community,” Destiny said. “In sports, you build a bond. You become a family.”

As she looks ahead to college, Destiny has already received acceptances from several institutions, including SUNY Purchase, SUNY Cortland, Hampton University in Virginia, Xavier University of Louisiana, Morgan State University in Maryland and the University of New Haven.

Regardless of where she ultimately enrolls, Destiny plans to major in fields such as criminology, legal studies or political science as she prepares for a career in law.  

Behind her is a strong support system that has helped guide her every step of the way. Destiny describes herself as close with her family, who remain deeply involved in her education and future plans.

“My dad is at every parent-teacher conference,” she said. “My parents are very involved in my school life and my church life.”

Their encouragement, combined with her own determination, has helped her grow into a confident and driven young woman ready to take on new challenges.