Grace Powell Keeping Things Simple
Mariya Ilyas
“I hate it! I wish I was not the quiet girl!” While many know her as soft-spoken at school, “at home, I’m not a quiet person.” Why? Flustered and laughing at the same time, she shook her head. “I don’t understand it myself.”
Grace Powell describes herself as “simple-minded” and “silly,” and someone wants to live a “calm, straight life.” Her life is indeed simple; however, there is more to this self-proclaimed “self-conscious person.”
Living in the same house – a real estate dating back to the Washingtonian era – in Alexandria all her life has brought a “sense of security with my family,” she said. Family and faith are very important to Grace because “they have shaped who I am today in all aspects.”
Powell has spent her entire life with her twin sister, Gloria, whom she loves to death. “We understand everything about each other,” she explained. “We’ve always had the same experience.” While both have the same guilty pleasure (macaroni and cheese); however, each has a unique aura about them. “Grace is more sensitive and I am more assertive. I am a theatre geek and she’s a writing genius,” described Gloria. “And yes, for the record, Grace is taller but I’m getting up there! ”Gloria is the more outgoing while Grace is a little more reserved, but that does not keep the two apart. “Being a twin with Grace is priceless,” said Gloria.
The Powell twins also have an older brother, Stephen, who is 22. “Being in a close family shelters you from things that could have been worse,” she shared.
Religion is also an integral part of Powell’s life, as it guides her every day. As a Christian, Powell attends Sunday school regularly and has developed strong values for her and others. Common courtesy, she said, was a big thing in her family. Saying ‘hi’ and being polite are normal practice. “Those values have been instilled in me since childhood.”
It is no surprise that her father is a Pastor, just like her granddad. Powell paused before sharing a touching story about her mother’s dad who lived a “hard life” and grew up in the slums of 1920’s. Then, he lived a nomadic life, but today, he is a successful carpenter. “He makes me realize that I owe it to them [my parents] and myself” to do well in everything. “I feel guilty” because “people have worked to get me a good life.”
“She’s very much open to anything and rarely judgmental– two qualities that are hard to find in people these days,” said friend Stephanie Simmons.
It was the summer of 2008 that really transformed the “classy” Powell. It all started with the book Do Hard Things by twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris. “The book challenges young people to step out of comfort zones,” she explained. “I regret not pushing myself.
Junior year was stressful for her, and she “needed a break” from school. A service trip to Lima, Peru, last summer was exactly what she needed. However, that trip provided her with the inspiration she needed to get back on track. Peru is a third-world country with “poverty, broken, homes, dirt roads – I was prepared for it all,” she said. “What I wasn’t prepared for was how it would affect me.”
On the mission trip, Powell and the group washed the hair of children and mothers, helped fix a church, aided with washing clothes, handed out toys, and put on a gospel play. Every night, a new speaker spoke with a different message. One of the statements that struck to Powell was “I urge you brothers to live a life worthy of your calling.” However, living in a resort made “me feel guilty,” because “you wanna go through and experience” of what they’re going through, and you can’t, really. She questioned, “What is the point of learning about it if you can’t do anything about it?”
Overall, the trip was worth it. “Mission trip made me fee like I wasn’t living up to my potential,” she said regretfully. “I had wasted so much of my life.”
When she came back from the trip, she wanted to start her own club at the beginning of senior year. Procrastination and laziness got in the way. It wasn’t until January of this year that she finally started the “H Project,” a club targeted to address homelessness “because it exists everywhere.”
“At first, I was scared about membership,” she said. “But things got together.” The club accomplished two main projects this year. Through the “Teens for Jeans” drive in late March and early April, the H Project collected a total of 640 pairs of jeans, which were then donated to a local homeless shelter called New Hope Housing. In May, the club also donated $600 to the shelter from the “Walk-it-Out” walk-a-thon. “I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished in such short amount of time and I really hope it continues next year.”
“You make an impact, but there is so much more to be done,” she said, with pitched tone.
The mission trip changed Powell for the better. “Getting me throughout this year has been that change,” she said in a reflective, mellow tone.
The changed Powell will be attending Patrick Henry College in Purceville, Virginia, a small liberal arts college. “I chose PH because it was strong in writing and had extremely high standards.”
Powell enjoys different forms of art and so she started playing the piano in fifth grade. The “calm, quiet, and artsy” nature of it “has so many different layers to it” that “I want to continue and play something beautiful.” From day to day, Powell just wants to “sit down, knock out a beautiful song, and call it a day.” Just as simple as that.
