— courtesy Vance County Schools — VCS Photo
Randall Q. Bullock, a Vance County native now living in New Jersey and mentoring young men, spoke to male students in the school system’s Youth Empowerment Academy on November 3.
Bullock talked with the six students, who are in the academy on long-term suspension from their middle schools, about their focus on the important things in life and about making good decisions.
He explained to the students that he moved to Vance County at an early age and attended school at New Hope Elementary, Eaton-Johnson Middle and the former Vance Senior High School, now Northern Vance. Bullock stressed to the students that he wanted to tell them his story to help them for their futures. He said he always loved playing football in school and continued playing football when he completed high school at Ravenscroft, a private school in Raleigh. After graduating from high school in 1984, he attended the University of Virginia where he played on the varsity football team.
“I enjoyed my time playing football,” he explained. “I was a wide receiver in college and I played, but I think back even now on what I could have done more at that time to improve and be better. Would it have made a difference in my future? Could I have actually played in the NFL?”
Bullock admitted he didn’t work as hard as he should have in college. After completing his time at Virginia, Bullock moved to New Jersey where his father lived.
He said he eventually realized he needed a plan for his life and that he needed to “look at the big picture.”
“That’s what I want you to do,” he told the students. “Look at the macro, your big picture for your life and where you want to go. You can also look at the micro, which is what you want to do for right now.”
He emphasized to the students that they need to make good decisions now and work to get back on track with their school work and their behavior.
“You are hurting your life resume,” he said. “You must get an education to be successful and you must stay out of trouble.”
Bullock talked with the students about Booker T. Washington, who transformed himself from a former slave to a successful businessman and is known today as one of the most influential African-Americans in our history. He also told the students the story of Ben Carson, a national leader among brain surgeons who ran for U.S. President in the 2016 election. Carson was raised in poverty by his mother, but with her always pushing him and his brother to do well in school and get a good education he overcame many obstacles and is a very success African-American today, Bullock added.
Bullock was brought to the academy by Dr. Ralphel Holloman, coordinator of the academy, to mentor the young male students. He plans to visit the students each month and continue to work with them as a positive, adult role model. Bullock said he is in Henderson about every three weeks visiting and assisting his mother who still lives here. He also plans to bring additional speakers with him when he visits with the students.