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Tyree Johnson
Tyree Johnson is a student in our Fostering New Visions program. This summer he was invited to participate in the bi-annual Young Advocate Leadership Training (Y.A.L.T), held by the Children’s Defense Fund on their Haley Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Over the course of five days, Tyree engaged in dynamic and interactive workshops and panels, networked with other young leaders from across the country, and worked to understand the historical framework of movement building and organizing.
The following is an entry from Tyree’s diary:
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Are you satisfied?
We have somehow all been given the mission “to save the world”, to bring people from their lowest moments of heartache. But can well all really save THE world? Let’s not deny our true selves! Let’s promise to live our lives by this one rule?: When God calls, you answer!
There are certain aspects that exist in our lives, whether it is a significant other, friend, or whatever, that we are unable to explain. Things that may go against everything that we have ever stood for, but still can’t turn away from. I believe that this is the same fervent that we should approach child advocacy with. We should fight for this world the same way we make love – blindly and with great unwavering passion! Your fight might not be the same as mine. Although I have committed my life to fighting for the lives of the homeless, gays, and foster youth, you may not feel the same. Find your own lane, be true, faithful, and fight like hell to serve it. Let’s all promise to live our lives right on the edge of glory. And throughout it all, remember to smile :-)
Tyree has been a part of Fostering New Visions for nearly six years. In pursuit of becoming a publicist, he is currently attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), majoring in Advertising & Marketing Communications.
Antonia
Antonia first came to Center for Educational Opportunity five years ago, before her ninth grade. CEO helped her attend New Roads School, and now she is at Dickinson College where she was awarded a full scholarship through the Posse Foundation. She reports:
Well hi! Fall was absolutely beautiful here on campus, but now the weather is getting really chilly out here and I can see we are headed for a long, cold winter. I really appreciate your offer to help with a couple of warm things to wear—certainly not what I ever needed in my wardrobe in sunny L.A.!
Everything here at Dickinson is going great. As you know, I want to eventually have a practice as a pediatrician. I have jumped right into my major in biology (with a minor in education). My classes necessitate a lot of hard work, but, overall, I am doing well. My favorite class is “Harlem, Haiti and Havana: Mapping Cultural Connections through Poetry,” a very well taught, fascinating study of how these three countries, where writers published in three separate languages, shared a common, passionate socio-cultural consciousness.
Nearly every day I am made aware of how appreciative I am of how well New Roads School provided a strong foundation from which to move pretty easily into the demanding expectations of college. And my four years as a New Roads student at such a diverse campus definitely prepared me to always keep an open mind and to welcome experiencing new things, an approach to school—and to life, really—that is proving to be invaluable.
Jhamasa
Jhamasa first came to Center for Educational Opportunity nine years ago. CEO helped her attend New Roads elementary, Willows Community School, and Brentwood School. She is now a sophomore at Jackson State University. She is the deserving recipient of a United Friends of the Children College Sponsorship Award. She reports:
Sophomore year is proving to be quite an experience! I’m now taking classes that focus on my major (business accounting with a minor in music) and I’m feeling both challenged by all that’s required and rewarded with a sense of hard won accomplishment. In addition to strictly academic courses, I’ve also been taking photography classes. As I gear up for semester finals and then winter break, I have high hopes for the upcoming semester. I’ll be taking more business classes, and hopefully I’ll be able to intern for a record label this summer. Last summer I worked in music promotion for Warner Bros. with an independent label that distributes music from films. It was a good experience, but this summer I would like to work for a record label. My future goal is to become a music producer/manager/A&R representative.
While going to school and working I still make time for my passion: songwriting. On campus I’m active in swimming (as of now it’s a club, but we’re trying to develop an actual team). Eventually, I would like to be a part of the student government, but for now I’m evaluating their position and how they attend to the student body. As you know, I’m very outspoken, always with lots of positive ideas, so I believe that it would be a cool thing to try!
I really appreciate the support from Center for Educational Opportunity—they continue to contribute to my attitude towards life, which is to never give up and to always try your best.
Alexis
Alexis is one of the “original five” students, benefiting from the program’s advocacy and services since 2000, first as a student at Marlborough School, then throughout her years at Tufts University. After graduating from Tufts, cum laude, she is now studying to at the University of Southern California’s esteemed School of Social Work. She reports:
After graduating Tufts University with a B.A. in Political Science (cum laude) in May of 2008, I worked for a year at a Los Angeles foster family agency. During that time I was able to work closely with social workers and witness how the child welfare system here in Los Angeles works (or doesn’t as the case may be). My professional goals have always been geared toward helping children and their families, but I always thought law was my calling. The more I learned on the job, the more I became convinced that the field of social work was really where my interest and passion lie. Now, I am a graduate student at USC, working toward my Master of Social Work degree and planning to concentrate on the intersections between child welfare and public policy. I’ve just finished my first semester, and though it’s challenging, I am truly excited about what the future holds. Also, my little sister, Kortnee (who also is a Center for Educational Opportunity student), is just finishing up her first semester of study at the Parson’s School of Design in Paris, France. She is diligently learning French and is well on her way towards her dream of becoming a fashion designer. We’re both working really hard and hope to make you all proud!
Manny
Manny first came to Center for Educational Opportunity five years ago, before his tenth grade. CEO helped him attend Brentwood School, and now he is studying at Hampton University in a five year program that offers him a B.A. and M.B.A. He reports:
During my high school years, and now college, Center for Educational Opportunity has helped me in so many ways. They allow my financial obligations not to be so overwhelming. A good example: this semester I was able to make a phone call after having my computer destroyed and the next week a brand new computer was waiting for me. Also, knowing that 24/7 you have the ability to talk to someone makes you want to finish the race. All in all, I wouldn’t be in college without the help from Center for Educational Opportunity. I am able to dedicate my time to working hard in school, and less on where my next meal will come from. All college students struggle. That is a fact. Without Center for Educational Opportunity I wouldn’t even have the opportunity to struggle at college, to become a man, to someday start my own business, or to lend a helping hand to others when I become successful. I owe it all to Center for Educational Opportunity.