Manny Scott talks to students about hardship, being there for each other
From living on the streets at age 11 to working to inspire students and teachers to make a positive impact on each other, Manny Scott hasn't had a simple life.
Scott, one of the original Freedom Writers that the 2007 movie by the same name was based on, came to El Dorado for two days to speak with teachers and students at Barton Junior High School and El Dorado High School.
The Freedom Writers were a group of students inspired by their English
teacher to write about the challenges they faced in their lives. Their writings were published and became a best-seller.
On Oct. 23, Scott spent time with students. He did an assembly with all Barton students in the morning and went to EHS in the afternoon. His focus was on showing the students that they aren't alone when they're going through hard times.
Students were asked to stand up if the question described them:
• Are you being raised by a single parent or guardian?
• Has somebody in your family
been dealing with alcoholism?
• Has somebody in your family been dealing with drug addiction? • Have you seen your mom get hit by a man in her life? • Has somebody you care about been killed because of gun violence? • Has there been a time recently when you've come to school feeling depressed? Suicidal? Students at both schools stood with each question with at least some crying.
Scott then gave
students time to comfort each other and thank those who had been with them when they needed somebody.
Scott mentioned losing friends to gang violence and dropping out after one semester of freshman year. He was sitting on a park bench in Long Beach, California when an older man sat down next to him and encouraged Scott to continue with school and try to get out of the gangs, violence and drugs.
Scott has now earned a master's degree and is working on his doctorate. He's married with three kids, who he has traveled to Italy and Egypt with.
He's earned his pilot license and flew himself and his family to El Dorado.
He now travels around the country talking at schools, conventions and prisons about having a positive impact on others lives and helping people understand that they aren't alone.
Michael Shine may be reached at 870862-6611 or mshine@ eldoradonews.com. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook @MichaelAZShine for updates on Union County school news.