Everyone at Central knows who Reggie Dabbs is, and everyone knows he has quite a story to tell. This was his second time coming and talking to students here, and many thought he was more inspiring than last time.

The upperclassmen who attended the assembly last year were ecstatic to hear that Dabbs was returning, and the freshmen were excited to see him because of all the stories they heard about him. Expectations were high and as students flowed into the gymnasium, the excitement increased.

Reggie Dabbs is 44 years old and has been speaking to all different age groups for 21 years. Apart from being an exceptional and world-renowned motivational speaker, he is a talented saxophone player.  To close this second visit, he played “I Believe I Can Fly” on his sax.

Before entertaining us with his musical skills, Dabbs gave a graduation gift to all the seniors-- a gift that no one could ever forget. He asked the seniors which teachers, during our 4 years, have helped us the most. Mr. Clemente, Mr. Clerico, Ms. Hopson, Ms. Mueller, Ms. Sisia, and Ms. Mirachi made their way to the center of the gymnasium floor and individually, as well as in a group, rapped for their students, “There ain’t no party like a drug-free party ‘cuz a drug-free party don’t stop, AIIIGHT!”
 
After school and before his last performance here at Central, Dabbs attended a special dinner in the Junior/Senior cafeteria. At the close of the dinner, students met with him and got to know a little more about the foster child turned motivational speaker.

In response to the question, “How did you go from the life you had to the life you have now?” Dabbs said, “Never give up. It starts with one country, one city, one school, one kid. That’s how it happens.” He said that if there was one thing that he could do and why, he would, “Take your pain because everyone hurts.” 

Dabbs knows what it feels like to be alone and to have all this pain and nothing to do with it and no one to talk to about it.  Asked why he uses humor to get his message across, he said, “It just comes easy. I am the funny guy. I think humor breaks down walls.” Regardless of the humor and jokes and laughs, “the more I do it, the more tears I see.” He admitted that he is, “getting old” but he doesn’t see an ending in sight because what he does is too meaningful to him and to the kids he speaks to. 

Dabbs also has a Myspace in which kids of all ages comment and message him with their own stories and, “a lot of funny kids try to tell me jokes.” He said he always answers the kids that comment or message him because they need someone to listen to them.

At the close of our impromptu interview we asked Reggie if he wanted to add anything. His response?

“I got yo’ back!”