Man Up and Lead: Making Positive Choices

As the school year winds down, a special guest joined Apollo and Tech High Schools‘ “MANUP” and “African American Female Leadership” students for their last meeting of the year. St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson spoke to the group about safety over the summer and shared his own personal experiences of growing up in the “hood” of Detroit.

MANUP and African American Female Leadership groups build upon skills students already possess to help them make positive choices while transitioning into adulthood.

MANUP is open to any male, but is predominantly made up of African-American males. The group meets weekly for 12 weeks each trimester. Its focus is on rites of passage for males. The African American Female Leadership group meets bi-weekly during the entire school year focusing on how to be leaders.

Henry Galloway, academic achievement and support coordinator, is the advisor of the two groups. He says, “Presenters are brought in to share their stories and information about how to become leaders in the community including character development, anger management and financial management.”

These groups combined to hear Anderson speak.

“What do you want to do this summer?” asked Anderson. “How are you going to spend your time?”

Answers from students ranged from working to working out, playing ball to hanging out with friends and from filling out college applications to attending college early.

Anderson, building on their responses asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up? How do your choices over the summer affect that?”

Again, answers varied from an NBA player to an athletic trainer to a pediatric surgeon.

Anderson points to the Apollo student who wants to be an NBA player.

“I played ball in college,” explained Anderson. “Do you know how close I got to playing pro?”

Another student responds, “Not even close.”

“That’s right,” answers Anderson. “I kept my nose in the books and worked hard… If they took my job away today, I know I’d be ok. They can’t take my master’s degree away. You know why? Because I earned it. I went to class. I can work elsewhere.”

Seniors were reminded that graduation and the real world are approaching fast. They will soon be independent. They will need to make decisions about their futures. Anderson stresses how important it is to surround themselves with the right people, the kind of people who will support them in achieving their goals.

Anderson explained, “People come into your life. They do one of four things. They add, subtract, multiply or divide. Three of them you don’t need. Unless they are adding to the package you are presenting, you don’t need them around.”

Anderson also shared his father’s personal story.

In his twenties, Anderson’s father was approached by some friends in a car and asked if he wanted to “roll-out.” He agreed. While out for a ride, those friends robbed a liquor store and killed the store clerk. Anderson’s father was in the car and had no idea what was going on in the store.

Still, Anderson’s father went to prison for 20 years as an accomplice. Why? Because he was there and in the car.

From a criminal point of view, there is guilt by association. If you are around people who are doing negative things, it is assumed that you are doing negative things.

“Do you know how many parents that I’ve had to notify that their sons or daughters your age, their bodies scraped off the highway because they’ve stolen a car or gone for a joy ride and they’ve run into a tree?” asked Anderson. “It is completely preventable.”

Anderson recommends not to have an idle mind. He believes his father had an idle mind the day he decided to get into that car and it changed the course of his life forever.

Instead, keep your mind active. Go to the library, read books, read case files or read for pleasure. Research what you want to do for a career. Get a part-time job for the summer.

“I love what I do,” said Anderson. “I absolutely love what I do. I can’t wait to get to work in the morning. Do you know what that means for me? I don’t work. Because I have fun at work. I can’t wait to see what comes next, what I’m going to learn next. And, oh yeah, they pay me. Find something that you are passionate about… and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

He challenged students, “What are you doing to further your goal?”

“I earned a scholarship to attend school,” said junior Marque Morris.

Kennenthia Riley, a junior answered, “I keep my grades up, stay on the honor roll and took all business classes.”

Anderson reminded the students that it starts with them, their self-respect and self-definition. Nobody can define who they are but themselves.

It’s all about choices. When it comes down to it, people choose their own path with the choices they make.

As for these students, you’ll find them playing ball, working, traveling and attending college this summer. They are choosing a positive path.