THE CARVER'S PROMISE

The Carver Promise is a project based on the encouragement given by a mentor to his or her protégé. The Promise more specifically involves college students taking the time to help the young people who attend Washington Carver Elementary, located in Metro-Richmond. It begins with the students at the third-grade level and progressively continues throughout the student’s academic career. This manner allows for the project to oversee the growth and development of the students so that one day the correct assessments can be made in regard to their futures. For example, students that attain and fulfill academic requirements may be directed towards attending college, versus, a student who may be focused on a technical career. Basically the Carver Promise was established to help the students at Carver find direction that they may not receive at home. The majority of these children live in single-parent homes that fall under the poverty level. Due to the lack of parental support, most of these families rely on various government funded aid programs.

I have found that the Carver Promise has the potential to give everyone involved a sense of success. When I began working with my student, Kelvin, I was astounded by the life that he was forced to live. Yet, I had seized to realize that what I found to be “his darkness”, he found happiness. Because of his age he hasn’t become bitter by the disadvantages that he has been dealt; he remains innocent to the outside world. So, considering that I have realized that the key that I hold is to influence him with such positive energy that when he does identify with reality he doesn’t become overwhelmed by negative thoughts. I have now made a promise to him to be there to help him find the light at the end of the tunnel, education. My main purpose is to give him guidance and overall, to be his friend. Furthermore, the Carver Promise has allowed for opportunities for these bright, young, enthusiastic souls that need nothing more than a little guidance. The Promise has also given me the opportunity to get a glimpse of the life that my buddy Kelvin lives everyday. In retrospect, I have been able to broaden my horizons culturally and morally.

In the future, I would like to see Kelvin improve his grades and work harder to move on to a secondary school. To see Kelvin’s desire to succeed flourish and for him to realize that if he wants to become prosperous, he must look within himself. As far as I am concerned, I think Kelvin has a lot of potential to be anything in this world, and I will be there the whole way giving him guidance when needed.

De’Nora Hill, Alpha Iota Beta