Spend some time with Lynn English senior Ghafour Diallo – it doesn’t have to be long – and there is a reasonable chance you come away with this thought:
Ghafour for President.
Yes, of the United States. The kid is that impressive.
There he was, sitting in a classroom across from WCVB news anchor Antoinette Antonio, who came to Lynn to tape a segment for the station’s High 5 Award, presented to outstanding students in Eastern Massachusetts. He was nominated by his guidance counselor, Nikki Merz, and Antonio responded almost immediately.
Diallo certainly looks good on paper – or a computer screen – but that does not come close to reflecting the real thing.
Born in Guinea in West Africa, Diallo moved to the U.S. three years ago at the age of 15. He made the 4,000-mile journey with his older sister to join their mother, who had emigrated in 2016 and ended up in Lynn. It’s somewhat ironic that he showed up at English unable to speak the language.
“I was nervous. I was scared also,” he said. “But that was just for a few moments because I had to quickly adjust … I had to immerse myself. I had to be around people. So I was scared at first, but I was able to catch up and be normal like every other student.”
The evidence would suggest Diallo has done more than simply pull even with his peers and his achievements are somewhat abnormal – in the best of ways.
He has a 4.3 GPA while taking AP and Honors classes. He is the commanding officer of the cadets in the Marine Corps JROTC program, in which he is on the drill and marksmanship teams. He plays on the Bulldogs’ Greater Boston League championship football team.
Did we mention he speaks five languages?
“There are a lot of students here who are impressive,” Merz said. “This is my 27th year here, and every year, I’m like, ‘there can’t be anyone better.’ Then you meet people like Ghafour and you think, ‘No one’s going to be able to top this.’ This is a student who is just amazing in every aspect. He’s kind, he’s dedicated, he’s smart, he’s honest. I mean, it’s like he’s just everything.”
Diallo is well aware that had he stayed in Africa, there is a good chance he would not have had the opportunity to achieve at a level that someone would be talking that way about him.
“There were hard times in Guinea,” he said. “There were shootings, people being killed. For those reasons, schools used to be canceled, and it was hard going to school. That’s one reason why I came to United States, to be able to continue my education and be a person in the future. And I live in Massachusetts, the best state for education!”
Merz is the one who suggested Diallo look at the JROTC program and that has proved to be a lynchpin of his emergence as Big Man on Campus on Goodridge Street.
“She signed me up for the Marine Corps JROTC program … I love the Marines,” he said. The purpose of the program is to teach the leadership and discipline. We do a lot of community service and I’ve met a lot of people with different backgrounds. We’re trying to prepare people for life outside high school.”
Diallo has applied early decision to the University of Pennsylvania. In the unlikely event that doesn’t materialize, he will apply to Duke and Harvard. He plans to enlist in the USMC Reserves while in college and his long-range goal is to become a lawyer, though there are plenty of people who have met him who think politics could be his calling. He possesses a magnetism and natural charisma that allow him to form instant connections with people.
“When I first came to English, I didn’t even have friends, and I didn’t speak English so well,” he said. “So I had to learn English to be able to communicate with people and be friends. Having friends is fun. You have people to spend time together and you’re not alone. When you’re down, you always have people to rely on. It’s good to have people around.”
Antonio asked Diallo if he is mature for his age, considering his life story.
“Yes,” he said. “I have a purpose in life, and I came from a different country, and everything is different, so I had to adapt to the values. And knowing where I came from and what I left behind, I know I have something to accomplish. I have to do the good.”
He is forever grateful for the opportunity to do that on U.S. soil.
“I’m grateful to live in this great nation,” Diallo said. “Back in my country, it was fun, but it was tough also. But living in this country, in a different place, and learning the values, it’s actually amazing. I have multiple friends. I have patriotic friends. I have people who I want to be around all the time.”
He has participated in the Living in Two Worlds program, in which Lynn English students relay their story of navigating life between cultures and the inherent challenges that come with it. He is also taking peer mediation training, where students resolve conflicts among themselves. That fits perfectly with Diallo’s natural ability to improve circumstances for those around him.
“Ghafour is all about what positivity he can give to others,” Merz said. “When he finds out about a scholarship, he wants all the kids to know about it. He’s a true leader. I would love to see him be in politics and be helping other people because I think that’s where he belongs, in public service for people. Yes, he’s awesome. He’s just a great kid all around.”
And if he ever does run for office, look out.
“I can see him politics,” Merz said. “I can see him campaigning for something. I think everyone he’s touched in life will be backing him. Like what you see in the hallway, it will just be on a bigger scale. You could call a random teacher and say his name and they will smile. It doesn’t matter: the principal, the janitor, the secretaries. When I told people he got nominated (for High 5), every single person was so happy for him. I’m so proud of him. I think we all feel like he’s our son. We all love him.”
The High 5 segment is scheduled to air on WCVB Channel 5 on November 19 at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.
