THE ONCE WAS A BOY

• Black male,
• comes from a single-parent home,
• resided in an inner city neighborhood,
• troubled by the police
• Did not attend school regularly
• consistently conflicted with other teachers

Stereotypes are  one thing in society that may be the most influential on your presepective of an individual. It can highly impact your decision on a subject, and shape the way you react to the event/individual.
For the sake of privacy, let's call "the boy"J.T. J.T resided with his mother, who provided the minimum to ensure his welfare. What was fail to be provided however, was someone to guide this boy, leaving him to make his own pathways; mistakes and all. Every fact listed above brought upon a new challenge and stereotype against J.T. In definition, he was an "at-risk youth."  Meaning that his possible future would be to end up in jail,  dropped out of school, and/or dead. On many occasions JT was harassed by the police simply because of how he dressed and the area he resided in.

JT was always a person with a lot of character. He always had the Witt of someone twice his age, and brilliance that went beyond.At such a young age, no one knew what to do with this young man, or how to communicate effectively with him. He challenged everything he was told, and needed a logical justification for everything learned. Because of his strong-willed personality and articulated outlook, teachers wrote him off as disobedient, and the community saw him as a trouble maker. JT did get into his share of altercations. For the most part he did know better, but with no motivation to change, and with no encouragement to positively engage, he continued to become a product of his environment.However, no one could ever doubt that JT did not belong in this unproductive lifestyle. Just like any other youth, he just needed someone to trust, and to trust in him.

For the few that actually had the pleasure of knowing the young man, they were honoured to be able to experience his intelligence and higher level of  thinking. He became involved in extra-curricular sports and eventually became the Vice  President of thehttp://national.nsbe.orgNational Society of Black Engineers at Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute. He became an active member of the Black Students Association conferences, but continued to struggle to maintain interest in school.

NOW THERE'S A MAN

• Seventeen years of age
• Works three jobs
• Attends highschool with a 96% average
• Does a Co-op placement at a bank

 He no longer reside with his mother, but lives on his own. He is now committed to bettering himself and making the best out of his current situations. JT tries to maintain control of his surroundings in order to gain a positive outlook on his future. His future aspiration includes becoming a Financial Planner. JT has the intentions and the Grade Point Average to be admitted into a post-secondary institution, but unfortunately the finances are limited. Being underage and on your own has its disadvantages. For one, you must now proclaim the responsibilities of paying rent, working, and going to school. JT insists on pursuing his education, but reality shows that he may not be able to financially succeed on his own.

The thing that makes me so drawn to this individual is that he is so much like myself. Our lifestyles and situations reflects one another, making him as noteworthy as myself, or any other teenager out there on their own. This mature male has the potential to CONQUER ALL ODDS and ACHIEVE HIS FULL POTENTIAL.  No matter what choices we make to help one another, or to be of aid to teenagers nationwide, JT will continue to INDEPENDENTLY progresstowards his aspirations. It would be highly sufficient to find it within ourselves to believe in him, recognize his true capabilities, and help him to reach his goals.

There's always something we can do to assist one another. Our society is beginning to function on fending for ourselves. We do not see what does not directly involve us. We do not cater to those that has not direct benefits in our lives. What our society is failing to understand is that in order  to build an accurate future, in order to see future generations prosper, we must do everything possible to provide our current generation with the utilities to be successful. Think of those like JT as your child, your sibling, yourself. See the odds that needs to be overcome. Weigh the benefits of helping one more person in the world. What do you have to lose?