The guest speaker at Youth Week, Dr. Adolph Brown, addressed the students of York High School on December 2, 2005. Brown, head of the Psychology department at Hampton University, spoke about character.

Brown defined character as, “Who you are when no one is watching.” Character, Dr. Brown said, is often absent in the home, as well as in society and education.

Brown’s background developed his character. Brown grew up in Bayside Arms, a Virginia Beach housing project with his mother and four brothers and sisters. When Brown was just thirteen years old, his oldest brother was murdered. From that point forward, Brown knew that he had to make something of himself, and show character, in order to succeed.

Dr. Brown’s educational philosophy is to inform students about the method to achieve success in life. The first step, he said, is to gain their attention, “You can teach anyone anything, once you get their attention.” His method is to deliver substantial information in an upbeat and engaging fashion. An example of this is his use of music to engage students’ minds.

He said, “Youth have distractions. From your Ipods, to your Internet, to your cell phones, your largest hindrance is your mentality. There is no longer a risk in education.” Brown feels these distractions keep students from succeeding in the classroom.

The ability to re-institute the risks about which Brown spoke falls upon the educators.

Brown believed, “adults are not raising the bar,” or challenging students. Brown agrees with Harvard Psychologist William James. James said, “People use only 10% of their abilities.”

Dr. Brown’s method of educating youth depends upon three points. He first works to get the attention of every participant. He then ensures that each participant has changedemotionally, intellectually,and psychologically upon leaving each presentation. In the last element he emphasizes is teaching every participant the critical thinking skills, knowledge, and application needed to leap over the risen bar.

Brown put every student to work during his speech. From singing and shouting to dancing, everyone got involved. Brown pulled students out of the crowd to ask them questions about their lives. Brown “parted the seas,” as he called it, and even went into the stands to talk to students whom he felt were not paying attention. Students even came down and danced on the gym floor to Brown’s favorite song, “I Feel Good” by James Brown.

Brown has over twenty years in education. Club Wellness, a center he and his wife opened as an outreach for young people, now has four locations in Virginia Beach and one in West Africa. For his work, he has was mentioned in JET magazine. Brown is also known for training four national champion kickboxers.

He said, the “Quality of your life is based on the quality of your thought.” Brown addressed students on self-respect, ending his speech by telling students “You are the diamond in the rough. Just because you mess up, doesn’t mean that you have to give up.”

Brown ended his session at York by suggesting all students should re evlauate their lives, and try to move them in the right direction, towards success.