Dr. Steve Gallon III was honored to host Georges Alexis and Brandon Williams who are both graduating seniors from District 1’s Miami Norland Senior High School. These young men reminded many to not paint the image of young Black male youth from the urban core with one broad brush.
He wishes them continued success, strength, wisdom, and humility as they prepare to graduate and attend UCF and FAMU. Dr. Steve Gallon III believes in the 5000 role Model’s mission in “In giving minority boys hope, as well as the vision of greatness to emulate in their everyday lives, and forming a fraternal aura of brotherly love throughout Miami-Dade County.”
Dr. Steve Gallon III believes that there are some lessons and bits of wisdom that only a man can impart to another man. Men and women are different. We view and interact with the world differently. So it makes sense for men to seek out other men for guidance on how to navigate life.
Unfortunately, it seems like a generation of men went without mentors growing up. We hear on the news about absent fathers and the effect it is having on young men today. Even when a man has a father he can look up to, it takes a village of man mentors to raise a child. Yet men find themselves more and more isolated, without the community ties and relationships that helped previous generations learn the art of manliness. Without good examples of men to emulate, young men often get a bit lost. Dr. Steve Gallon III says studies have shown that the lack of a male figure in a boy’s life increases the likelihood that the lad will perform poorly in school or get involved in crime. And beyond the obvious consequences like crime and education, this void can affect a man in a myriad of subtle ways.
In addition to providing some guidance in navigating through life as a man, mentors can expand one’s view of what it means to be a man. Every man has had different life experiences and been exposed to different philosophies and worldviews. They’ve been brought to their knees by different trials, been carried away in different joys, and have learned unique bits of wisdom. They can help you see things a different way, inspire you to dare greatly, comfort you when you grieve, and help you become a better man.
Dr. Steve Gallon III also believes that learning the ropes of a new job can be pretty nerve-racking. Even when you’ve been on a job for a while, it can be difficult to understand office politics or how to move-up in your position. This is why finding a professional mentor is so essential. Seek out a guy at work who has been there awhile and who is in a position you eventually want to attain. Dr. Steve Gallon III says a professional mentor can give you honest feedback about how you’re doing, warn you about what not to do, introduce you to valuable connections, give you advice about how to get promoted, and put in a good word for you to the higher-ups. Perhaps most importantly, a professional mentor you can truly trust becomes a friend you can go to when you’re having a terrible day at work and need to vent. They’re probably just listen to you, chuckle at your amateurishness, and point you in the right direction.
