
Zae Tejedor
Eighth Grade, Paul W. Bell Middle
Zae’s story is a profound testament of resilience, growth, and the quiet courage it takes to overcome difficult circumstances. Raised by his mother and grandmother, he had a negative experience at a private school which resulted in various changes to his school environment eventually leading to homeschooling until the family moved to Georgia and Zae found himself back at school. Despite experiencing bullying and feeling overwhelmed by the changes, Zae never lashed out. His self-control and desire to do the right thing in such difficult circumstances show maturity beyond his years. Earlier this year, Zae and his mother moved back to Miami and with the support of his family, teachers, and counselors, quickly began to flourish. Today, he is thriving academically, participating in class trips, and is happy for the support of his school community. He is working hard to build peer relationships and dreams of joining the basketball team in high school. Zae embodies what it means to do the right thing—not through grand gestures, but through perseverance, kindness, and an unrelenting effort to heal and grow.