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Education: Bryant Elementary School
James Lick Middle School
Oakland High School
Abstract: Brian Stanley is an African-American, who was born at the Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, on May 13, 1976. Brian grew up in the Fillmore District. While he was growing up, the Fillmore used to be known as “the hood” but according to Brian, it’s now a “yuppie paradise.” He had a very small family that consisted of his mother, his grandparents, and two of his cousins. Brian grew up without a father and really doesn’t know much about him.
For most of his life, Brain was raised by his mother, but occasionally stayed with his grandmother, because his mother was either going in and out of rehab for drugs, or working long hours. Still his mother was very supportive about his education, and sent him to some private schools. He attended many elementary, middle, and high schools in San Francisco, but eventually graduated from Oakland High School. Mostly, students there went on to college or a community college. But, many of the African-American students did not attend college, something that Brian was also going to do. The only reason Brian thought about college was because some of his teachers told him that he could succeed in further education. There where a couple of teachers that motivated him to attend college; his football coach Mr. Keifer and his economics teacher, Dan Hagan. Brian’s coach wanted all his players to attend college even if they didn’t play sports, while his economics teacher directed his attention to Saint Mary’s, by actually taking him to an open house that was held there.
However, the person that made the greatest impact on Brian’s decision to go to college was his mother’s friend, Susan. She basically told him that if he didn’t attend college he would end up on the street like most of the other African-Americans males. He was the first person in his family that attended college; no one else from his family went beyond high school. He was admitted to SMC through the High Potential program, which is a program designed to prepare first generation college students for college. Now Brian is works in the Saint Mary’s advising office.
Keywords: African-American, motivated, first generation, education, family
Brian's mother and the former Black Student Program Director, Pamela George.
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