The Power of Opening Doors: Reflecting on Black History Month

“True teaching is only effective when it triggers something that lasts forever or sparks a desire in the student to discover more beyond the classroom.”

Dr. Christopher Emdin

This quote resonates with me, since it summarizes my journey as a Black man growing up in Brooklyn, NY. I was an eager learner and very involved in my junior high school. Towards the end of eighth grade, I had the opportunity to sign up for the Summer Law Institute for a law program called Legal Outreach, Inc.

At that time, I was dealing with several personal challenges. Still, I remember hearing a phrase that resonated with me: “When a door opens, sometimes you have to walk in and check it out.” I was the final student accepted into the program.

That program led to an opportunity to apply to the College Bound Program, which gives you the opportunity to intern at several different law firms throughout New York City the summer before your sophomore year in high school. I remember these prestigious entities distinctly: Shearman & Sterling LLP, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, and Chadbourne & Parke LLP. I knew I had to make the most of these new opportunities.

When I found out that I was going to be working on rotation each week at a different firm, I felt nervous but truly grateful that Legal Outreach had prepared us. When high school students get the chance to live out real-life work assignments, it makes them envision their futures with a fresh perspective, since you’re looking at it with new knowledge and insight. Many times, like in my case, one opportunity begets another and another – it never ends with just a single step.

As I reflect on my life so far, this is one of the most amazing and memorable experiences I had growing up, because I saw my options more clearly. Getting a chance to intern at a law firm in high school allowed me to recognize cultural diversity in the workplace, what it took to be a professional, and the importance of networking.

In fact, I took that into practice right away. I stayed in touch with the Pro Bono Director at Shearman & Sterling LLP and to this day, we remain friends. This experience gave me the confidence I needed to put myself out there — something I didn’t have before. As a result, networking with the Pro Bono Director helped me secure a job within a department at the firm every summer during my time in college.

As I think about Black History Month and what it means to me, I want people to know that it’s not just about taking time to understand and appreciate the rich culture of Black and brown people throughout history, but it’s also thinking about how we can work together to write a better future. Organizations like NAF that connect what students learn in the classroom to the “real world” and allow young people to see their full potential, truly change the trajectory for students of color and the communities they live in. I’m proud to say my career journey has taken me to NAF, so that I can pay it forward like the many mentors I’ve had over the years have done for me.

To learn more about resources to honor Black History Month in the classroom check out: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/2019/02/black-history-month-resources-for-the-classroom/.