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I want to give you a special welcome to our Esperanza Elementary blog as we take our journey to found the school of our dreams. I invite you to visit us often and offer any ideas, thoughts, suggestions, questions, comments, etc. you might have.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Importance of Peers

A couple of days ago I saw a segment on TV about THE THREE DOCTORS. I was reminded that I had read their book The Pact a number of years ago. Seeing this TV segment and reading the book are reminders how important peers are, especially for students in challenging situations. We should, therefore, do everything we can to encourage our Esperanza scholars to follow the example of these three doctors and form a similar pact with their peers.

The following is The Three Doctors story taken from their website http://threedoctors.com/our-story/

Drs. Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins, fondly known as The Three Doctors serve as an extraordinary model of leadership for anyone who’s been through any kind of life challenge or major hardship.

As teenage boys growing up on the tough inner-city streets of Newark, New Jersey these three kindred spirits made a pact: they would stick together-go to college-graduate-and become doctors. Surrounded by negative influences and having few positive role models, made this a not so easy feat. Now several years later, these three men have overcome countless obstacles and proudly bear the subtitle of doctor and serve as the face of health and education for youth and families across the country.

Today, Dr. Hunt is a Board certified internist at University Medical Center at Princeton and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Jenkins serves as Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry at Columbia University. Dr. Davis is a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician at St. Michaels Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center. Davis is also consultant for the Violence Prevention Institute focusing on gang awareness and preventative medicine in Essex County. The doctors have additionally authored two inspiring books about their lives: The Pact, for adults, and We Beat the Streets, for children. A third book The Bond, highlighting fatherhood relationships will be released in 2007.

Doctors George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt and Sampson Davis deliver a well-needed and urgent message of hope and inspiration everywhere they go. Their key essages-Never underestimate the power of self-reliance and inner strength-Attach a timeline & devise a strategy for achieving your goals-and finally-Surround yourself with like-minded people who are in line with your aspirations.

Growing up in the streets of Newark, they know first hand, the pressures and struggles of life in the inner city and how difficult it can be going at it alone. Determined not to become victims of their environment, the trio stood firm in their mission and together became one of the most remarkable success stories of inspiration, dedication and determination. Dr. Sampson Davis asserts, “Strength comes from knowing that the power to overcome adversity and prevail lies within one’s self and you have to first realize that. Once realized, you have to accept accountability for your life and take the necessary steps to turn hopes and dreams into realities.”

The Three Doctors are frequently asked their formula for becoming prominent, successful men, and doctors at that… and while their lists are long, they are certain that success comes in many different forms as does talent. Dr. Jenkins comments on some of the fundamental elements they all needed, “Learning patience was key to our success. Our children are in an age where they want everything now and instant success is not only rare, but also deceitful. At some point you need a strategic plan on how you propose to live your life and carry out your goals for the long-term and that is just a starting point.”

At this website http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/pact.html are some great discussion questions for their book The Pact.

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