By Emma Medina
On May 9th, 5000 Role Models held a meeting in the C- Cafeteria’s seltzer room, where they were visited by Maurice Jackson, a former MLEC student and club member. The club sponsor, Keith O’Brien, has brought back many former students to speak to the members of 5000 Role Models to give them new perspectives and make them wiser. He invited Jackson to talk to the current members after seeing a picture of Jackson with the U.S. Ambassador for the United Nations.
In his speech, Jackson talked about various topics like his job as a foreign service officer, where he went to school, what he majored in scholarships, and more. As a foreign service officer, Jackson engages with foreign governments on behalf of the United States government to work on U.S. foreign policy. He gave the students the important information they would need once they leave high school and go on to college.
He also imparted advice about scholarships and college opportunities that would help the club members reach their fullest potential by utilizing the tools granted to them by the club.
Jackson originally joined 5000 Role Models after seeing his friends walk around wearing the club’s signature red ties. What started off as something to do with friends soon became an opportunity that would open many doors for Jackson, just as it continues to do for the current students in the club.
“I would say, ‘Do it’. At this stage, it doesn’t hurt to expose yourself to as many positive opportunities as possible… Join the clubs, join the organizations, and find out what they’re about. If they’re not for you, that’s fine, but imagine if they are,” Jackson told the students.
Being part of the club has helped Jackson with college scholarships as well as professionally. It has helped him gain confidence in himself and feel good about who he is and what he has to offer which has made an impact at his foreign service officer job for the United States government.
“5000 also exposed me to different aspects of professional life…5000 Role Models, to put it simply, showed me that there was more beyond what I was used to, and that, that is valuable.”
