Amelia Schafer
ICT + Rapid City Journal
RAPID CITY, S.D. – By the time she was 11, Tracelyn Strand had never missed a day of school. After receiving an attendance award that year, the elementary school student was featured on Good Morning America, ABC News and other national outlets for her record attendance.
After her appearance, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe citizen said she received thousands of comments telling her she’d eventually miss a day of school – she’d have to at some point, they said. Seven years later, despite challenges and a busy schedule, she’s still going strong.
“I heard so much about high school and how hard it would be. People told me I’d miss days, but I think those comments just motivated me,” Strand said.
When she walks across the stage Sunday and accepts her diploma from Rapid City Central High School, Strand will also celebrate 13 years without missing a day of school.
Strand’s perfect attendance began in elementary school as a way to win a new bicycle. Her father Trent Strand said her elementary school principal was offering bicycles to any kid with perfect attendance. Strand got the bike, then the next year she got a tablet, a star quilt and a bunch of gift cards. Those didn’t really matter to her much. Strand is self-motivated and no matter what, she keeps going.
“She’s always been interested in school and always wanted to be there,” Trent Strand said. “Even that young, she always wanted to be a teacher’s helper.”
When she was in seventh grade, one of Strand’s favorite teachers, Britney (Weber) Brouillette, died after a long battle with breast cancer. Her death made it more difficult for Strand to continue her journey to never miss a day of school.
“Miss Weber was a really key piece in her life,” Trent Strand said. “She went to visit Miss Weber in hospice and they had a talk. One of the things Miss Weber said was, ‘I want you to keep doing this.’ Tracelyn said, ‘I gave her my word and I’m going to keep doing it.’”
So she did it. Despite being a dual athlete, playing volleyball and basketball, Strand continued to stay motivated throughout high school. She did so because she’d made a promise to someone.
“I think that’s the most important element, she kept her word,” Trent Strand said. “She kept her word to her teacher.”
After Brouillette’s death, it wasn’t easy to keep going, Strand said, but her support system kept her motivated.
“They kept telling me this is what she’d want, she’d want the best for me and for me to succeed,” Strand said. “They told me I should think of it as if she’s looking down at me and is proud of where I’m at today.”
Strand also kept going in order to be a role model for her two younger siblings and other Native youth. In addition to her perfect attendance, Strand achieved a 3.85 GPA throughout high school.
“Since I’m Native American I get pictured as not being educated, not being able to attend school, getting into bad things,” Strand said. “I feel like I had to stay on the right path for my younger siblings and young people that look up to me.”
Her journey isn’t over. She’s planning on continuing her attendance streak throughout college.
Strand received a basketball scholarship to United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota, where she’ll work toward becoming a dental hygienist.
“She’s different than most kids,” Trent Strand said. “I mean other students, they’re good kids, but most other kids are not attendance driven like she is. A lot of kids, their parents have to fight with them to get up. I never did with her. She just gets up and does her own thing.”
Come Sunday, the girl who kept her promise to her teacher will walk across the stage and accept her diploma.
This story is co-published by the Rapid City Journal and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the South Dakota area.
Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter.