What's in a Name?

Isaiah Gillespie

Isaiah Gillespie- African American (mother); Irish-American (father); Personable and engaging, Isaiah is a creative soul with an active involvement in the high school's football team and music department. He is seen by Myra Walker as the "wokest" boy in school with his increased social awareness and love for advocating human causes. He is a smart, multi-talented biracial teenager with a talent for music and playing the cello, and his dream is to attend the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Raised in comfort in suburban Huntington, Long Island, he is also a skilled saxophonist and is a music virtuoso. Calm, cool, and collected, Isaiah is described by his peers as having the "pride of a lion and a heart of myrrh", placing great value upon his success and personal accomplishments. Driven and passionate, he has a well-developed artsy side and will often embark on a single-minded quest to achieve his goals. He also tends to place great pride upon his appearance and is not averse to dressing stylishly, depending upon the occasion. He has a walk-in closet that hides his extensive shoe collection, as his mother claims he has somewhat of an unhealthy obsession with Air Jordans and Nikes. Formerly a shy child, Isaiah tap danced as a young boy and was widely involved in the performing arts from an early age at his mother's encouragement. Through years of participating in acting and dance classes he opened up considerably and acquired a sense of confidence. When interacting with other people, he was also skilled at playing piano and still does so periodically as a stress release. He enjoys the works of various poets and classical music composers, such as the great romantic composer Frederic Chopin. Isaiah's love of performing has since become more of a hobby however and somewhat faded over time and he has since developed a preference for creating music. 

He is still somewhat involved in the performing arts however by working behind the scenes on the school's theatre production team. Often seen as charismatic and sociable, he is good-humored and considered friendly and outgoing, earning him many admirers with his pleasant attitude, candid demeanor, and strong social skills. He is a cheerful, genial boy at the high school known for his optimistic perspective on life and tolerant approach to situations. An amiable, unassuming fellow, Isaiah tries to confront negative circumstances in his life with positivity and seldom appears unsettled by unexpected changes or happenings in his surroundings. He is very attentive to his loved ones and unafraid to express what he feels, being known for his openness and honesty in revealing his true self. He has a good sense of humor and enjoys making those around him smile, often in a good-natured, upbeat sort of way and is skilled at deflecting negative energy or vibes elsewhere. He is a very humorous and jocular teenager, who often shares his resplendent trademark smile to hide his feelings of being immensely afraid at times. Isaiah is considered a bit of a smooth talker when flirting and is mentioned to somehow "always know the right thing to say to people", facilitating his ability to get what he wants and earning him considerable social approval. His voice has humorously been likened by some of his friends and fellow classmates as sounding like "audible chocolate." Sometimes perceived as the "nicest, sweetest guy around" with his ability to talk, he is persuasive in his speech and considered a natural leader. He can motivate others with just a few words and loves to help, as he is considered an effective problem solver who is dependable even in difficult circumstances. 

Often feeling conflicted with the presence of two distinct cultures in his household, Isaiah comes from a wealthy family and hails from an affluent upbringing compared with many of his peers. He was raised as the family's sunshine boy who couldn't do anything wrong and so was constantly pampered and spoiled for it. Although often privileged and receiving high-end gifts, he is humble and has a hidden heart of gold, making great efforts to stand up for the underdog. He is not blind to the social struggles that often conflict people in modern times and is often a strong advocate for matters regarding race and social identity. Isaiah identifies strongly with his African-American roots while embracing his birraciality as the product of two cultures that merged through an interracial marriage. He has significant popularity among his peers as the quarterback for the high school's football team and tends to use his social power positively. He tries to promote social causes among his peers but finds his escape through writing and composing his own music and playing instruments. Despite being generally accepting of others and unbiased, he will sometimes compromise his beliefs and alter his true self to better fit in with others due to his underlying insecurities regarding his self-identity and where he belongs. Isaiah can then seem uncharacteristically self-obsessed, shallow and image-oriented, although his long-time girlfriend Myra Walker always knows how to keep him grounded and bring him back down to earth. He is considered "light-skinned" by the African American community and has coily caramel brown hair that resembles a bushy afro, striking hazel eyes, and full lips. His parents are stunned to see that their bill has come back with an exorbitant about of money, discovering that their son has been spending much of their wealth on a variety of things for himself and his friends. 

They confront him on his actions, but it is very obvious that he lacks the understanding of how to spend money, thinking that it comes from the "money store". Isaiah can be a morning person when he has to be, but when he doesn't have to, he is described as being like a slug, and he has a dream machine clock radio. He also has a Martin de Porres High School pennant on his wall, a neat stack of books on his desk, and a poster from a summer camp production of Oklahoma. His sister mentions that he is "sometimes quiet, but he is very sure of himself in his own way, just like their mother, and very organized in a similar way, too". She chaperones his school trip to Paris to spend time with her son, yet he deliberately flunks his French test so that he can't go. Isaiah has two younger sisters, a pair of identical twins named Denise and Desirae who are currently in the seventh grade. He and his best friend and childhood sweetheart Myra led a happy marriage once they eventually wed one another in a romantic wedding reception at Little Miss Steaks with friends and loved ones and spent their honeymoon vacationing in Bora Bora. He sulks back to his parents, who after cutting him off are more amazed that by the end of the day, he has practically only spent 25 cents in total. After seeing that he has finally learned his lesson, they reinstate him, and he decides to be more careful with money for the time being. Isaiah and Myra continue to pursue their passions, living in a large two-story home in Rochester, New York after she completes her studies in Massachusetts, and she achieved prosperity as a lawyer while he immersed himself in the city's music scene. They later give birth to two sons, a multitalented academic athlete named Jabari and a sensitive, artistic soul named Devon. ENFJ 3w4