MBK Alum goes from meeting President Obama to mentoring young men

This meeting took place before my 2013 high school graduation. I initially thought President Obama visiting our “Becoming A Man” meeting would be a brief handshake, but the atmosphere immediately changed once I saw the United States presidential seal on a napkin in Room 208. That’s when the gravity of the situation hit me. I consciously decided to secure my spot and strategically positioned myself in the seat next to where the President would sit.

Once the conversation began, I quickly realized the power of the moment extended beyond the presidential office. The conversation he had with our group flowed naturally. Talking with the most powerful man on the planet felt normal.

I most needed President Obama to acknowledge I did not always make the right choices in life. I had experienced mistakes and needed to understand how they fit into a successful future. The president was powerful enough to be vulnerable about his own youthful decisions, and that candor deeply resonated with me. That conversation provided me with a critical shift in perspective. It helped me realize success does not require remaining on a straight and narrow path my entire life. Instead, my key takeaway: Success involves growing from lessons learned and always moving forward. This understanding influenced the entire direction I chose afterward, reassuring me that my past missteps were lessons, not permanent roadblocks.

My family has told the story of meeting the president in 2013 many times, and hearing it repeatedly fostered the feeling that I must be doing something right in life. Moments like this reinforce a powerful idea in my mind: that one never knows who is watching or who is inspired by your actions. This awareness encourages me to constantly try my best in all aspects of my life as a man, father and educator. 

The weight of being known as the guy who was in the room with President Obama requires me to constantly be on my best behavior. This sense of duty directly informs my work at Urban Prep, where I strive to be a big-brother figure, and guide young men distracted by life. I know that others are watching and drawing inspiration from my journey, so I use that moment as a tool to connect with and motivate my students

I worked in education because I wanted to return to Urban Prep, the all-boys school, and continue the mission of youth guidance. My ultimate priority now is developing relationships with the students to make them better young men. I developed the approach by drawing on my own high school experience with Freshman Connection, the Obama Leadership Academy's precursor. I leverage my history at Hyde Park Academy to better relate to and mentor them.

In my mentoring, I follow a stern, loving, big-brother approach. I do this because I know the world outside of school will not grant them the same passes they might receive in a supportive school environment. I stress the critical importance of controlling their temper and anger, explaining that in external environments, such as with police or strangers, people view aggression as a threat. I share this hard truth because uncontrolled anger is the quickest way for them to end up in jail or dead.

My professional journey and life reflect a deep commitment to the MBK milestones, especially numbers three through six: high school graduation, postsecondary completion, securing a successful job, and staying safe from violent crimes. As an educator, I speak daily to students about post-high school plans, including college or trade school. I stress the need to research the best path forward and finish their high school career strong. I want to ensure every young man I teach has a clear, actionable path to success.

Because I personally experienced gun violence firsthand, the most valuable message I share is the importance of staying safe from violent crimes and walking away from foolishness. Beyond direct mentoring, I also advocate for structural change. I champion facilities that allow young Black men to regularly interact with successful Black professionals—not just athletes or rappers. I am excited President Obama took my suggestion in 2013 for the Obama Presidential Center. The center's plans now incorporate my idea to bring in doctors, lawyers, and engineers to campus to create a sense of community and expand aspirations for the next generation.