Building the Future Starts Now
It is hard not to notice a student like Jamaal, with his megawatt smile and enthusiasm for networking. You may recognize him from last year’s EXP Summer Internship Video Blog (“Vlog”) and his passionate speech at last summer’s Internship Program Culmination Celebration.
Jamaal is a first-generation Black indigenous immigrant of Jamaica. Now in his senior year at Barstow High School and recently accepted to UC Berkeley in the fall, Jamaal strives for excellence in school and in his career aspirations in political and social sciences.
For EXP, Black History Month is both a time to reflect on the past and a time to highlight the need for action to help ensure today’s youth of color can realize brighter possibilities for their future. We recognize the power of mentorship in connecting today’s high school youth of color, like Jamaal, with adults who can identify with the issues they face. Mentors also provide guidance in helping youth pursue their individual aspirations and goals as they head into adult life. EXP launched Young Fellows Program (YFP) earlier this month to give boys of color this type of mentorship experience. The response among both mentors and youth has been encouraging.
“As a mentor, it has been exciting and invigorating to hear from these young men,” said Derrick Delton, assistant superintendent, Barstow Unified School District, who is also a YFP mentor to Jamaal and other Barstow High School Fellows. “The experience personally gave me insight as to how far we have come as a people but also how far we still need to go. I am confident, with the work we are doing with these young men, that our future is in good hands.”
“With YFP, I get to explore my identity further and learn from people that look like me before I transition to the real world," said Jamaal. Commenting on what Black History Month means to him, he said “Celebrating Black history is a tether to my past and it gives me a sense of gratitude for my forebears. Despite the hardships and tribulations, being Black comes with tenacity and excellence.”
For students like Jamaal, the future is looking bright, indeed.