In my senior year of college, I got serious about math and started tutoring to make a little extra money during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s when I realized I love to teach, so when I got the offer from Urban Ed, I took the opportunity. It was cool coming to the West Coast, but it was a big transition for me; honestly, becoming an educator was a big transition in itself.

My first year was tough. I started working at the Boys & Girls Club as a support staff member, and I realized how rare it is to see a Black man in this space. Even the kids didn’t know how to deal with me. I had all of these ideas and initiatives I wanted to make, but I was second man on deck.

Coming from the South, the culture shock was real. I went to a public magnet arts school, so I had to meet academic requirements to audition and then keep my grades up to stay in. I constantly put work in at school and at home. It’s not necessarily the same today. My students have a lot going on in their lives, so learning can’t be number one for them, and that makes me sick to my stomach. These kids should be allowed to focus on learning. That's why I try to connect with them on a personal level. I want to be there for them.

I bring who I am to my work. As one of a very few young Black men, I walk into a room knowing I look, talk, act, and probably even think differently than everyone else in the room. I have a unique perspective, and bringing that into the school so that kids can see me and relate to me is important. I’m in my master's program right now, so I try to lead by example for my students. I want them to see the importance of learning throughout their lives. Representation matters.

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