Helping Hands
The value of having a mentor can’t be emphasized enough. A mentor is someone who goes out of their way to guide and bestow wisdom unto someone (usually a younger person) out of the kindness of their heart . Mentors exist because they have been around long enough to know the game (in their respective field) and want to see those following in their footsteps do well. Mentors are generally drawn to mentees who they see something special in and are clearly serious about their endeavors. I’ve had several mentors throughout my life who saw the fire inside me and took the time out to guide me in the right direction.
One of my first ever mentors was the wide receiver coach on my youth football team. We called him Mouse. Coach Mouse was this swaggy looking white man who had footwork like a ballerina and always wore shades and a fitted cap backwards. He was tall, quick and intense— whenever he lined up on the line to demonstrate proper route running technique, it was a treat to watch. The way he burst off the line, broke down defenders, and stopped on a dime was very inspiring. Mouse coached me when I was still very new to the game. I came in with excellent hands but practically everything else needed work. I remember him always vouching for me on the WR line, in scrimmage situations, and whenever there was an opportunity to prove myself. He often took the time to pull me aside and correct me on what I was doing wrong and how I could get better. This gave me the confidence I needed to eventually be a reliable and solid player at my position.
Another valuable mentor in my life I had was Mr. Doyle who was a part of the faculty at my high school in East Flatbush. Mr. Doyle was a British man who spoke with enthusiasm and had a generally light and happy disposition. I always felt inspired by Mr. Doyle who was always doing his best to pry creativity and joy out of the students. We always had very intriguing conversations about the arts and I think that is what led to me being in that home room class. When I look back on it now, he was sort of like our version of Professor X. He was somehow able to assemble a homeroom of students who clearly had an interest in the arts but were maybe distracted or had other things they were focused on at the time. This wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t connect with each of us on a personal level to see what truly fuels us. Mr. Doyle is one of the main reasons why I was still somewhat involved with thee arts in high school during my stint on the football team. The assembly skits and plays led to acting classes at Urban Arts which led to me working on plays, short films and a TV show. He was the catalyst for my resurgence into the art world and for that i’m forever grateful.
I could go on like this forever; as there are dozens of mentors who have left their mark on me and my development as an artist and a human being. No particular person deserves the credit because ultimately it takes a village to raise a child and each of their small but valuable contributions led me to who I am today. I have since dedicated my life to being that beacon of light and inspiration for the generation after me. If in the end, I can say that a young black boy or girl learned about me and my story, and was inspired to pursue their wildest dreams because they saw that its actually possible, then I would have succeeded in life. Its the only thing I want ultimately, and I think its the only thing that truly matters in the end. All it takes is a song, a poem, a film, a quote, a portrait— and you can change someone’s life for the better.
