Kariem McCormick
2005 MAX Fellow
James P. Timilty Middle School (now closed), Boston, MA
Kariem wrote his MAXCourage award-winning essay “in a subject [he] was not particularly fond of — ELA,” on trying out for the basketball team. Even though he did not make the team, he believes he found courage in being able to try, and to try again. (He persevered and made the team in other years — a happy ending not seen in our 2005 book!) Receiving the award was tremendous for his confidence: He received other academic achievement awards as president of his debate team in high school, and later had his original music featured in a national hip-hop magazine. Today, he works for Boston Public Schools as a retention fellow.
Kariem said:
“Honestly, getting that award, in front of everyone, boosted my confidence greatly, because those [other] students. My peers had seen me fail many times, they had seen me be the subject of disruption of the classroom many times… It gave me the sense that I can actually be just as good if not better than everyone else… receiving the award was a pivotal moment for me…“There is truly no way to measure the effects that my MAXCourage experience has had on my confidence, but I can honestly say that I had the courage to face all of my fears from that point on.”