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Douglass: Thank you, Detroit Public Schools

By Kaleb Oates Staff Writer

As the conclusion of my high school career draws near, I now take the time to reflect on some of the awesome experiences Detroit Public Schools system has offered me. As I ponder, some memories evoke laughter, frustration and even tears. The strong support system that the school district provides has served as an inspiration to me and has encouraged me to constantly set and accomplish goals. I love to quote the words of my assistant principal, Douglass Academy’s Monique McMurtry.

“Never take no for an answer. That word shouldn't even be in the dictionary.”

Those words will always resonate with me because truly, the sky is limit to all of the success one can attain.

I have been exposed to many leadership roles and opportunities. They have led to many open doors. Leadership during my elementary years involved urban gardening at Dixon Elementary School in Detroit. The urban gardening experience allowed me an opportunity to effect change within my own community. I was able to change blight, vacant buildings and ruined lots into urban oases. As the lead community gardener, I was responsible for identifying potential sites for the gardens, organizing the volunteers and drafting visual and textual layout plans for the garden spaces.

My leadership traits continued to develop as I transitioned from Dixon to Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men in September 2010. Moving from a co-ed school setting to a single gender school took some time to adjust. It drastically changed my behavior. I quickly adapted to the all-male environment. The culture consisted of predominantly all male instructors, compared to all female instructors in elementary.

At Douglass, I found myself being shy, introverted and alone. Academically, I was below average and lacked a great deal of self-confidence.

As I matriculated to high school, I found myself gaining more confidence and self-assurance. My grades also improved. As my confidence increased, I found myself more comfortable speaking up in class as well as participating in extra-curricular activities. One specific experience I remember is my membership on the DPS Teen Leadership Institute; a field trip for a teen summit at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan compelled me to intermingle with my peers. I interacted with student leaders across the entire state of Michigan.

There, we had the opportunity to express our individual and collective views. It also taught me to appreciate the opposing perspectives of others by exercising respect and self-control.

As a result of me exhibiting leadership skills in my classes, I became a member of this leadership team on the recommendation of a school staff member. I also displayed the proclivity to take initiative.

Given that, I intend to become an educator. These early practices further assured my career goals.

As if my high school career couldn't get any better, the mentoring program in which I have been a part of for four and a half years now, Boys to Men, has adopted a partnership with the Men of Morehouse. Each student participant of the Boys to Men organization is matched with his own mentor, an alumnus of Morehouse College in Atlanta and has the opportunity to bond and share relationships with these distinctive men.

Connecting with people who have mutual goals and accumulated success pushes me to strive harder. I love Detroit Public Schools and will always be willing to support and advance its missions.

 

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