Mayor Kasim Reed spent most of Tuesday morning at Therrell’s School for Technology, Engineering, Math and Science (STEMS), talking with students about the importance of education and being dedicated as they move through life. “You have to fall in love with hard work” he told students. Mayor Reed lectured in the 11th-grade American history class Maurice Thomas, Therrell STEM’s 2009 Teacher of the Year.
The main purpose for his visit show was to show his appreciation of young people. His enthused introduction was a summation of his background, which included growing up in the southwest Atlanta area. The mayor spent all of his college years on being successful. “I remember meeting Andrew Young at Howard University and he told me I was going to be the mayor of the city of Atlanta” he recalled.
After the introduction, Reed briefly stated some of the benefits of being mayor, including, “You can be at the White House one day, and the next be backstage with Jay Z.” After his speech, the mayor fielded questions from many students. Junior Ricky Lipsey asked the mayor how he planned to bring the city back together after such a close election. “All of my opponents are working on my transition team,” the mayor responded. One student asked the mayor, “What do you like to do in your spare time.” He responded, “I work six days a week but I take Sundays off. I go to church, then I do what I want, and eat what I want. The last comment drew a chuckle from the students.
This event was a collaboration between STEMS @ Therrell and Teach for America, which bring guest speakers in Atlanta classrooms from March 15-20.