Students of Beechwood Superintendent Academy received a visit set up by retired Southern University Senior Military of Science Instructor, Les Miller, and SU Army ROTC cadet, Marquon Webster.
The visit was set up for cadets to help students get onto a positive path in hopes of success in their education.
The student mentors arrived at the school on Thursday afternoon and sat with the alternative school students for approximately two hours, giving advice along with sharing their related experiences.
Miller spoke of his expectations of how the mentors would impact the students of the academy.
“All the students from this school are here because they made some wrong choices in their life from their parent school so I felt that it was necessary to have young leaders who are closer to their ages that are able to help them understand that the decisions they make in life will affect them long term,” said Miller, then added, “Most kids will listen to who they feel are leaders in the community. Whether if it is athletes, rappers or whomever it maybe.”
Miller, whom is now the military physical fitness facilitator at the alternative school, continued by expressing his care for the kids and to change their outlook of the world. He said that his experience as a young man growing up inspired him to help these students. According to Miller, his similar experience compared to the students was behavior issues, in which he felt that the positive influence or gesture that he chose to display to them would have been very beneficial for him at that age.
Miller ended by saying, “With us being so close to campus, they know who these SU students are because they go to these games and see their names. However, now with their gear off, they can see their faces. So hopefully these leaders can say something in their message that will correct these kids’ path into the right direction,” and added, “Everyone makes mistakes but it is what you do with those mistakes.”
Webster, Senior Business Management major from Las Vegas, Nevada, elaborated on his biggest influence growing up and his experiences that were similar to the students of the academy.
“If I had to pick a specific person, it would be my dad. He directed me towards the right way as far as discipline and working hard,” said Webster, then added, “When I was their age, I did things to fit in too but when you find out that’s not what life is about, you’ll come to know that you don’t have to be like everyone else.”
Webster said that it “hit home” for him when he arrived at the academy for the students’ benefit because he was able to relate to most of their experiences.
“It’s part of the reason why I am the man I am today and it is possible to preserve and overcome it,” said Webster.
Students who enjoyed the visit by their collegiate mentors like Eric Achane and Tymyra Franklin of Baton Rouge expressed his thoughts overall.
“It felt like change. Some people like us don’t get stuff like this. It is a good thing that someone and came talk to us rather no one at all coming talk to us,” said Achane.
“It was good, I wouldn’t mind having them come talk again,” said Franklin.
Some of the chosen mentors that made an appearance at the academy were student athletes Lenard Tillery, Gabriel Echols, Anthony Mosely and Darnesha Moore along with ROTC cadets Erinn Smith and Justin Thomas.
Tillery said that his biggest role model was his dad, who was able to teach him about life and how to be a man. His message to students was, “You have to learn from your mistakes and realize that they can only get you so far. You have to be smart and understand your surroundings.”
When asked who was his biggest influence, Echols also spoke of his father and how he was taught all of what he knows to become a man.
Echols told the students, “Your past doesn’t determine your future. Don’t worry about what you’ve done, worry about the lesson in what you’ve done.”
Mosely said that his inspiration growing up was due to the passion and care that his mother had for him, which triggered his self-motivation.
“I had to close my mouth and just listen. You understand when you listen but you can’t understand if you’re always talking,” said Mosely.
When Moore spoke to the students, she told them that playing tennis helped her through hard times, which in result helped earn a scholarship and spot on the SU tennis team.
Moore stressed to the students, “Y’all have a second chance. You may be here at this school but it is not over.”
Smith said her mom’s death didn’t stop her from progressing and becoming the woman she is today. Her message to the students, “You have to want change and seek change for it to come.”
Thomas spoke of respect, guns and violence to the students and told them that, “I come from the same environment you come from. No matter what’s the name of our city, if you are around something negative you will become negative. Stay positive and be successful.”
ROTC Cadet Erinn Smith gives advice to grade school chidern at Greenville Alternative School
