Tameka Blake
Myself Third Spirit of New York 2002 Scholarship Winner
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Lehman College
"Tameka is a hardworking and dedicated student. What separates her from most of her peers is her sense of confidence and poise. She is never afraid to accept new challenges and refuses to be intimidated by new and difficult experiences. Tameka is a young woman who has a zest for life and a clear idea of where she wants to go."
—Beth Breitman, College/Career Counselor
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- A. E. Stevenson HS Volunteer
- Post Office
- Flushing Library
Excerpts from Tameka's Essay
Civic responsibility by definition is one's obligation or duty as a citizen. I've always thought civic responsibility related only to community service or volunteer work. Now I have a better understanding of the concept. To me it symbolizes anything a person can do to contribute to the well being of their country and/or fellow man…
For as long as I can remember I've always been interested in children… When I first started working with children I didn't realize the magnitude of my influence over their lives. I wasn't just correcting their homework; I was correcting their behavior and shaping their lives. These children look up to me as a role model. What I do and say affects the things they do. What finally drove this point home was when I realized that the children copied me. They liked what I liked and cried when they did something to disappoint me. I remember one day I went into work and I was very sad; one of the kids climbed into my lap and said, "Don't be sad. When you're sad, we're sad." Most of the children are from Asia or the Middle East and have trouble grasping the English language and therefore have learning difficulties in school. It makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile when children who once got thirties on tests work their way up to nineties. By helping them to read and count, they too can excel and have a great chance at success by receiving an education and going to college…
I want to work helping children with disabilities to get an education so they too can contribute to society. Being a good citizen is not just about volunteering, even though that is a big part of it; it's about helping others to help themselves so they might be able to help our society rather than be a burden.
