Jermaine Thomas
Myself Third Spirit of New York 2003 Scholarship Winner
Alfred E. Smith High School
Hostos Community College
"In the two years that I have known Jermaine, he has proved to be a responsible young man. He is focused and determined to do his best in all of his endeavors. Because of his attitude and ability, Jermaine has been a part of many jobs around the school. He has received nothing but praise for his professionalism and ingenuity. Despite his hectic schedule and negative influence from his peers, Jermaine has been able to keep a good average in school and in his college course at Hostos Community College. I am sure Jermaine will take all the fine qualities he has developed in high school with him to the world of work and post-secondary education."
—Scott Pagan, Electrical Instructor
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- Tutor, Literacy, Inc.
- Volunteer, Law Enforcement Explorers
Excerpts from Jermaine's Essay
The enormous amount of love people have for each other is one of the reasons why citizens place the needs of others above their own. An enlightened philosopher, John Locke, said that people are inherently good, and I agree. You get a great feeling from helping a person emotionally, physically, and financially. This feeling is important: knowing that you did something for someone that was a benefit in a big way.
I believe that it is my civic duty and inner motivation to serve this country that makes me so involved in my community, school, and country. For one, it is the amount of freedom in this country that allows you to do whatever makes you happy.
For six years, I have been involved in New York City's Law Enforcement Explorers program. The program, made up of urban youth and members of the New York City Police Department, allows the youth to meet with police every week for five hours.
Within the five hours, the youth learn police techniques and daily law enforcement operations. The program requires a variety of community service at nursing homes, hospitals, and toy stores. Many of the community service activities that we did were hands-on and allowed face-to-face communication with people. The look in the faces of the kids and elderly was a big accomplishment for many of us that previously had never done anything for anyone but ourselves.
There are many values that are instilled in people to put the needs of their school, community, and country before their own. Those values are what make the world a better place.
