(May 1, 2008) — We arrived at Flankers Primary and Junior High School in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to see the results of Miles Ahead volunteers’ many hours of repairing and painting the busy school during the week preceding the crusade. One of our greeters was Fredrico.
Fredrico, or “Rico,” had a shiny blue name badge on his khaki uniform. It read “Head Boy / F.P.& J.H.S.” Under his title of Head Boy, Rico wore a badge that said he was a Peer Counselor. The 14-year-old was the leader of his school in a rough neighborhood, for reasons that quickly became clear.
Rico was by nature a role model. His manner was dignified, even courtly. He looked at his adult visitors squarely in the eye, and said hello, softly, but with a slight grin. When asked if he was indeed Head Boy, the leader of the student body, he tipped his head a bit, gave a hint of a shrug, and said yes.
He reminded me of the school’s principal, Mr. Hugh Miller, another courtly person who has dedicated more than two decades of his life to Flankers School. Mr. Miller said the school is a home away from home to many of his more than 700 students, at times the safest place they have.
We didn’t have time to talk with Rico about his life, or his dreams. Did he look to Mr. Miller as a mentor? Perhaps. He reminded us of why Miles Ahead exists. Miles Ahead is focused on young people, on nurturing their potential and working with their communities to provide opportunities for spiritual growth for future leaders like Rico, the Head Boy of Flankers. It was an honor to meet him.
