Student Highlight: SaRai Sherman
Meet SaRai Sherman, a third-year majoring in business and information systems in Cal State Long Beach and a new member of the Black Scholars Team. SaRai is a multifaceted, hardworking, and passionate student who takes pride in her leadership role on campus and her commitment to uplifting the community at The Beach.
SaRai appreciates Cal State Long Beach for its abundant resources. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the nearby beach and exploring the amenities offered by CSULB. When she’s off campus, you’ll find SaRai taking relaxing walks or turning up the music in her favorite dance classes.
To foster community on campus, SaRai actively participates in student organizations. One club, especially close to her heart, is the Black Business Student Association (BBSA). The club’s close-knit nature gave her the opportunity to connect deeply with its members, eventually leading to her current position on the board as Secretary. SaRai also finds support and empowerment through Sister Friends, a community of Black women dedicated to uplifting one another.
SaRai credits the community she built through BBSA and other clubs as her greatest source of advocacy at CSULB. One person who made a lasting impact on her journey is Sidnee, a former student who encouraged SaRai to step outside her comfort zone and explore new opportunities on campus. Although Sydney graduated last year, her influence continues to shape SaRai’s experience at The Beach.
One change SaRai hopes to see on campus is an increase in social engagement. She actively hones her social skills through clubs and organizations, striving to make others feel welcomed and supported. Her dedication to building fellowship is also reflected in her involvement with CSULB’s dance team, The Honeys.
SaRai draws inspiration from her role models: Tracee Ellis Ross, Solange, and her mother. Her mother’s resilience and resourcefulness motivated SaRai to advocate for herself. Tracee Ellis Ross’s warm, confident, and uplifting energy inspires SaRai to lead with light, while Solange’s creativity and commitment to her craft fuel SaRai’s own passion and artistic expression.
As a CSULB student, SaRai is proud of her ability to balance work, academics, and leadership responsibilities. Managing all of this as a sophomore was challenging, but it gave her a sense of accomplishment and helped pave the way for her future. Her greatest achievement has been forming a community that aligns with her values and supports her growth.
SaRai believes that for students of color to thrive, there must be accessible resources and greater awareness of those resources. She emphasizes the importance of normalizing asking for help. To SaRai, being a Black scholar means valuing the transformative power of education, and she lives that value by consistently showing up and committing to her goals.
