Giving Back

I often think about how different my life would have been had it not been for the actualized dream of an educator named Ed Carpenter and his wife Ann. Harlem Prep helped me reach my dreams and goals of getting a college education. I graduated from Eli Whitney Vocational High School in Brooklyn with training in secretarial studies. I'm not knocking the public education that prepared me for a job, but it was not what I wanted to do with my life...be a secretary. I was advised by my guidance counselor in junior high that my aptitude tests indicated that I would do best in office skills training and that I should go to a vocational school. After graduating and working in office settings, I could not see myself sitting down at a desk for my entire employment life. I tried to enroll in community college and could not because I lacked academic subjects. With no one to guide me as to how to go about getting the subjects I needed, I resigned myself to work as a secretary. One morning, on my way to a new job with a major bank in NYC, I met a friend who told me to come with him to this cool new school which would help me get into college. I stood at a crossroads of life in the middle of the train station. On one side, the train for a new job with a bank...on the other, the train to Harlem and Harlem Prep. With nothing but trust in God and my friend, and a fervent desire for something different in my life, I jumped on the train to Harlem. Best move I'd ever made in my life to that point. There I met Headmaster Ed Carpenter. He allowed me to enroll despite the fact that the school year had already begun. He helped me, had faith in me and hundreds of other students who had, for one reason or the other, not reached their potential. I am forever indebted to him and Harlem Prep. I graduated from Harlem Prep. Graduated from Cornell University. Met my husband. Had 4 wonderful children. Dedicated my career to giving back by teaching students who, like me, felt powerless and continue to give back through volunteering and community activism. I am proud to be a graduate of Harlem Prep. I will continue to document by journey through Harlem Prep 1968-1969 in this blog. I hope those who had their lives changed for the better will join us in remembering Carp and all the wonderful teachers who gave of themselves. More to come.