The Pact

The Pact
The parking deck was filling up fast. The excitement was in the air as the students filed in by buses and cars. There was great anticipation to hear the speakers. The majority ethnic population was black. There were teens and parents waiting to hear how these three doctors made a pact to become doctors each in his own field of expertise.
They captured the audience’s attention by starting off with a powerful video of what it looks like to be highly educatedly mindful. Each doctor was pushed by a mom who wanted more for their sons. The intentionally of their moms landed them in the right schools to connect with the right people. These three young men on a whim decided to flick class one day not knowing that that decision would set the stage for a very bright future.
Dr. Sampson Davis, Dr. Rameck Hunt, and Dr. George Jenkins had very similar backgrounds as they all grew up in one of New Jersey’s poorer neighborhoods. Dr. Davis is a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Hunt is a Board Certified Internist, and Dr. Jenkins is a dentist. The three attended Seton Hall University’s Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dental Plus program, specifically designed to encourage minority students to pursue a medical career.
The overall message to the attendees was preparedness plus opportunity equals success. Ninety percent of the equation is getting prepared. It is up to the person to choose a goal that can be met with many mid-course corrections. Approach your life for the long term effect it will have on your behavior. Be more pragmatic, that is concerned with the practical consequences of actions or beliefs. Learn who you are and compensate. Fail forward, each failure should push you forward towards your goal. Each A is a final positive implementation to your future.
Be a dreamer, dream big then put action to your goals. Setting goals help you to keep boundaries. Try to experience the world outside of where you live. Get as much exposure to others, places and cultures. Recognize opportunity when it presents itself. As Dr. Davis stated, follow the 3 Ds_ Dedication, Determination and Discipline. Remember it takes work, hard work to accomplish your goals.
Stay focused on the goals you have set for your life. Sometimes things to not work out, but you will find if you stay the course that people will come along to help you obtain those goals. The scholarships that were offered the three young men fell through. They went to the library on campus and researched the scholarship manuals and then received help from others that were in place to help them succeed.
In our nation’s capitol only 9% of ninth graders graduate from high school. We as parents and guardians should do all we can to help students accomplish their educational goals. Education is the key to all of our success. Let’s take education to celebrity standing. Let’s make education just as popular as any sport. Education plus planning leads you to the door of opportunity.
Knock and step in!