Successful Men Tell High School Boys: Education is Key

On Jan. 15, the Greater Reading Mentoring Academy hosted a Violence Prevention & Anti-Gang Symposium in Reading High School for 9th and 10 grade boys. The Greater Reading Mentoring Academy is an organization that provides services to the youth. The panel included David Hall, Omar Dickens, Shawn Jenkins, Nate Perez, Ed Terrel, Joey Negron, District Judge William Hall and District Judge Wally Scott. Each of the panelists spoke to the male students about decision making and patience. They expressed to the students that impulsive decisions can cost them their life. Panelist David Hall said that when growing up, he did not have any positive role models in his life. He turned to the streets to find what he was missing. He eventually found what he was not missing. It was soon after that he realized that he needed to change his life around. Although he has had his name in various prisons, he has also had his name in various colleges, including Shippensburg University and Temple University. He has changed his life around and expressed to the students at Reading High School that education is key. Without an education, these students would be looking at a road without any possibilities. David Hall now works for the Caron Foundation, a center near Wernersville for people with addictions. Each of the eight panelists had one thing in common. Education is the key to success. Anyone can have dreams, but it takes a believer to make their dreams come true. The Reading High School 9th and 10th grade males left that afternoon knowing that achievement is the next step to success. These students left with the knowledge of knowing that a split-second decision can cost them their lives. More information on the Greater Reading Mentoring Academy can be found at www.mentor2youth.org. Dorian Smith, principal of Greater Reading Mentoring Academy, can be reached at 610-375-8550. Compliments of Jillian Algarin