Growing Together
“We don’t have to have all the answers. We can lead and be led. When we are willing to do both, that’s when the real magic of partnership happens.”
This started out as a classic member success story. Ms. Ponton, Club Director at MLK, Jr. Middle School Club, shared how academic support provided by Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond helped Damarcus, an Armstrong High School student, graduate. The story highlighted Saturday Academy (a supportive tutoring environment to complete homework and projects), BGCMR’s deep commitment to member success, and our individualized and intentional support. But, as is common at BGCMR, there were so many layers to the story.
Ms Ponton shared:
“I had the opportunity to work with one of our club members who had given up and stopped attending virtual school. Upon receiving his report card, I reached out to Armstrong High School’s Principal and Damarcus’ guidance counselor to see what needed to be done to get the young man back on track to graduate. I reached out to the youth and his mother, and we put a plan in place, and got to work.
"The plan consisted of Damarcus being picked up Monday-Friday for individual tutoring at the Fairfield Club with a former English teacher, Ms. Joni Moore. On the weekends, at Saturday Academy, he worked on his American Government assignment. I transported him for his English and Writing SOL. On June 21st, the morning of graduation rehearsal, I received the call from Dr. Ward, Armstrong’s guidance director, letting me know that, because of Boys and Girls Clubs’ dedication, she was proud to share that Damarcus would be graduating the next day and that I needed to get him to graduation rehearsal immediately.
"I picked Damarcus up and took him to graduation rehearsal. Afterward, we went shopping to get everything he needed for graduation. I was filled with so much emotion as I sat in the stadium and saw hard work with this young man pay off. I watched him walk across the stage and receive his high school diploma.
If someone asks me, would I ever do Saturday Academy again, even after the pandemic is over, my answer would be yes because it does have an impact on our youths’ academic success.”
Everyone who heard this story wanted to know more! Only after sitting down with Ms. Ponton did we find out Damarcus wasn’t the only one trying to achieve a dream during the pandemic.
Ms. Ponton was on a journey of her own when she found out Damarcus needed help to graduate. When she thought back to her own high school graduation, and how circumstances had prevented her from marching with her class, she was determined to get Damarcus across the stage. There were times when he was his own worst enemy. He’d oversleep or seem uninterested. “I could have yelled at him all day long, getting him out of his house and onto the school bus, asking him how he could have gotten so far behind. How he could have let this happen. But no one responds well to that kind of judgement. This is about meeting kids where they are—and moving forward.”
Damarcus trusted Ms. Ponton and knew she had his back. After all, she had consistently showed up for him, even waiting for 2 ½ hours outside of a classroom while he took his SOLs. Also, he knew that she meant business. “Ms. Ponton don’t play,” he said, half laughing, half dead serious. She’d be at his door any time a teacher let her know he was missing class.
During one particularly challenging Saturday, when the amount of work that needed to be done seemed overwhelming to Damarcus, he and Ms. Ponton made a pact.
“Damarcus. You know what? I am in school, too. I know how hard this is. I am also the class of 2021. I’m set to graduate in December. My classes are also suddenly virtual. If I do what I need to, despite this pandemic and any other challenge, I’m going to be wearing a cap and gown for the first time, too. Let’s promise each other we can do this.”
“Okay,” Damarcus agreed.
Ms. Ponton recalls a time when someone said something so simple to her that made her realize she could have a huge impact on the lives of youth. “Marvin Green, BGCMR’s Alumni Coordinator, recognized my gifts. He said, ‘You have a real passion for helping our youth.’ I was just being me. This is my calling. This journey of my Bachelor’s degree is about me becoming my best self in order to be a blessing to these kids.”
At his graduation ceremony in June, as Damarcus crossed the stage, his mother, in her Armstrong orange and blue dress, shouted the loudest. Ms. Ponton was also there, quietly celebrating Damarcus and envisioning herself in a cap and gown, making good on her end of the bargain.
In December of 2021, after earning her Bachelor’s degree, and among graduation wishes and congratulations from friends, family, and coworkers, Ms. Ponton got a text from Damarcus. “Congratulations! You did it!”
“That text really touched me. It made me realize that I was never on this journey alone. Damarcus and I will forever be partners in learning. I’m still committed to making sure he keeps going, and is on a path that will lead to happiness and fulfillment. While I was helping him, he helped me. We don’t have to have all the answers. We can lead and be led. That’s when the real magic of partnership happens.”
Congratulations, indeed, Damarcus and Ms. Ponton!
