Get Schooled: More Impressive Kids and Summer Opportunities

By Amber Lester Friday, August 13, 2010

Williamsburg City Council members faced a packed house at council’s work session on Monday afternoon.

Row after row on the right side of the Stryker Building’s council chambers was lined with students wearing gray and blue T-shirts. For meeting regulars like me, rows of kids usually means one thing: field trip. But in this instance, I was pleasantly surprised.

The students were participants in the city’s Summer Youth Achievement Program. They came out to the meeting to share about their experiences in the program, which has been offered by the city’s Department of Human Services for more than 15 years. Director of Human Services Peter Walentisch was careful to say during his presentation to council that the program is not a recreational summer camp – it calls on city youth, ages 13-15, to explore their academic and career opportunities.

The Youth Achievement Program is specifically targeted to at-risk teens. It spans two months of summer break, and has kids focus on their futures while learning about careers, college options and the principles of leadership.

At Monday’s meeting, two students stepped forward to talk about their experiences in the program. Prince Jackson told the council members that the program taught him how to control his anger, be a better leader and learn to appreciate different cultures around the world. “The country I enjoyed learning about most was Japan,” he said, adding that he would like to live there someday. He also enjoyed visiting the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, and is considering a career as a chef.

Jackson’s favorite lessons were about self-esteem. “I learned a more in-depth definition,” he said. “To have self-esteem, you need self-respect, self-confidence and self-affirmation.”

I won’t lie … there is no chance I would have been able to speak as coolly and calmly as Jackson did, especially knowing I was on camera. His speech was well-organized, clear and concise and – most impressive – delivered without notes. Council member Doug Pons took note, and praised Jackson’s speaking abilities.

Next, participant Sabrina Tucker spoke about learning how to be a member of a team (something the council members could certainly relate to!). “I learned to get respect, you have to give respect,” she said.

She told council that the program taught her she could make it to college. “I learned I can be successful if I try,” she said, before thanking the members for their support of the program.

Jackson had mentioned in his speech that one of his chief role models was Sean Preston, a counselor in the program. Preston is a graduate of the program who is now a junior at Virginia State University. Council member Scott Foster pointed out how wonderful it was to see a former participant reinvest in the program. Preston begrudgingly stood to a round of applause.

Since I started covering the Historic Triangle, I’ve been lucky enough to attend a few events where students speak eloquently about the valuable learning experiences they’ve had. For a softie like me, these events inevitably end with me checking my mascara for streaks after wiping tears from my eyes. If you’d like to celebrate these kids, stop by the Youth Achievement Program’s Closing Ceremony at noon today in the Williamsburg Community Building. Jackson and Tucker will speak again, and counselors Joel Wilson and Natalie Jones will speak, as well, before they dole out certificates to the participants.

Remembering Convocations Past
William and Mary alums can celebrate the college’s past convocations in the weeks leading up to the start of the new school year by visiting an exhibit at the Earl Gregg Swem Library.

Just inside the doors to the library, an exhibit case has been set up to display photographs, programs, artifacts and a yearbook documenting the history of Convocation. You can also check out pictures from past convocations, some dating back to 1920, at the college’s Flickr page.

The earliest record of a Convocation at the college is the opening remarks from President Thomas Dew in 1836. Convocations were not held from 1972 to 1992, but the tradition was revived in 1993 by President Timothy J. Sullivan to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the college.

This year’s Convocation speaker will be Henry C. Wolf, Rector of the college. Wolf earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the college in 1964 and a law degree from William and Mary in 1966. After 34 years with Norfolk Southern, he retired as CEO in 2007. The law school’s expanded library is named for him.