Dr. Wright's School Real Men Read and Career Day

I was invited to speak to groups of children at Dr. Wright's elementary school in East St Louis. A lot of strong men turned out including the mayor. We had a photo opportunity, and was escorted by a student to our perspective classrooms. I must say that it's been a while since I've been to that level of school to speak. I loved the children enthusiasm and the hundreds of questions that poured from their hearts and minds. It was an honor that drilled deep in my heart to be able to reach out to the young and give them an inside look at life beyond school. I told them a story about people asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up but never telling me how to achieve it. I spoke to them about setting goals,and never giving in to so-called failures because life is one big test. The main point I wanted to address was how to pick careers, lay out a course of action e.g. classes, scholarships, and schools etc...I read to them, spoke about my obstacles and how I refused to accept no from anyone when I knew in my heart that I wanted to do something. I gave examples of my books published etc. I spoke about doors of opportunity and how hard it was to get a key if you did not study life, and read about and find mentors or people who have already done what you want to do. I told them about my travels around the world and how people were the same no matter what color or race. I told them about the man lying in the street near the subway entrance that everyone passed by without notice in New York and in Paris, France. I'm blabbing but after speaking to three classes for 45 minutes each or so and having all the children give a mission statement and announce who they are, where they are from, what they wanted to be, and what they were going to do to achieve it I prepared to leave. I ended with stating that life is a test and they will have to study and read to win. The students applauded me, however, my heart applauded them. We have hope for the future--let's not forget that it takes each and everyone one of us doing our part "each one-teach one".