SZA, whose real name is Solána Rowe, attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey. She graduated from CHS in 2008. While in high school, SZA was active in sports, including gymnastics and cheerleading. She was also a member of The Special Dance Company. In interviews, SZA has spoken about the bullying and Islamophobia she experienced in high school, which she says shaped her into the person she is today. Despite feeling "awkward" and having almost no friends, SZA has said that her high school experience motivated her to work harder and be more. In 2018, SZA was inducted into the Columbia High School Hall of Fame.