My name is Jermani Cox, and I am currently in eighth grade at Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School. I was born in Trinidad, but moved to New York when I was about six to help my mother take care of my grandmother. Seeing my mother help my grandmother inspired me and made me feel obligated to help others as well. Since then, I have participated in block party fundraisers. The money we raised went to local children in need.

My favorite book is The Boxer, which taught me anyone can find redemption no matter the circumstances. My heroes are my sister and Kyrie Irving. Time and again I’ve watched my sister sacrifice for my siblings and me. I’m really inspired by how she did all of this for us at such a young age. Kyrie Irving is also another one of my heroes because he advocates for many causes bigger than himself. He knows that he is such a big inspiration and role model for so many people.

I either want to be a doctor or an NBA player when I grow up. Saving lives has always been such a big goal of mine. Life is such a valuable thing, and everyone should be able to enjoy it. Bad things like war and gun violence happen all the time and being a doctor would help me save lives and not leave loved ones in despair. I hope I can be in the NBA as well because my father always pushed me to play basketball before he departed from my life. I hope I can make millions of dollars to give back to my community and family while in the NBA.

My favorite Civil Rights figure is Martin Luther King, Jr. My favorite quote of his is “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” This quote reminds me to drive all hate out of my heart because hate will only consume you. Only kindness will truly overcome the world’s darkness.

This fall I joined a program called BK2BAMA. This organization helps eighth graders study the Civil Rights Movement and Black history. We go on field trips around New York most weekends and over April break we will travel to Alabama and Georgia to visit sites and meet with veterans of the Movement. BK2BAMA develops young leaders by involving them in the history of the struggle for civil rights. I joined BK2BAMA to learn more about our history and become a role model for those around me. I’m especially excited to visit HBCUs like Morehouse and Tuskegee when we travel down south. This trip will be a once in a lifetime experience for my peers and me.