- I want a basketball scholarship because if I'm going to college to play basketball and I'm getting a free education, it can't get better than that.

Everything depended on the season, really.

- Currently I live with my mom in the backyard of my brother's house in a trailer.

My mom chose that trailer because she wanted to feel like this is a home.

We make sure that we take care of each other.

- 58% of the students in the entire school have at least one F. - We're seeing kids who didn't fail, who were on target to graduate, struggling with that right now.

- We are at that point where we are on a time crunch.

- I was writing them.

I gave up.

- You can't give up on these.

We got 12 more days.

I can't have you just avoiding it forever.

[hip-hop music] - ♪ It's like--like ♪ ♪ ♪ - All right, so for this one, I want you to talk about a little bit less fluff here in this first paragraph.

- OK. - Spice it up a little bit.

I'm really excited about office hours being a space for people to come have structure and see that there's other people here working on these things.

And I've had Ebei come in literally not to ask any questions but just to do work because she knows that that's a space where she can be held accountable in doing work.

Lawrence, you ready?

- Yeah.

- Let's do it.

Are they asking you to send your transcript to the school, or are they asking you to put your counselor's name so they can input your transcripts?

[computer chimes] And there's Kadynce.

I'm worried that Kadynce just joined just to make me happy and is not going to actually do any work.

[computer chimes] Hey, Kadynce.

Hey, Kadynce.

- Hey.

- All right, what we get?

What we get?

- I'm doing the Lottie right now.

I was reading the questions, like, the UC questions, over and over.

I don't know.

I was all over the place.

I was in the room.

Then I was in the kitchen.

- Mm.

- Watched a little bit of TikTok.

I'm not even going to lie.

- Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

- You know, I was waiting for something to pop up and me to just have, like, this, wow.

That didn't happen, though, but yeah.

- OK. Maybe we can get there.

- I don't have that.

- You don't have what?

- Answers to these questions that these people are asking me.

- I know.

We going to come up with them.

But are you motivated to apply to these schools?

- [laughs] Not anytime soon, I'm not.

I would hope so.

- You talking to me?

- Yeah, I hope so, but not anytime soon we're going to have answers to these questions that these people are asking me.

- Kadynce, we will get the answers to the questions.

- So much stuff.

- But are you motivated to apply to the schools?

Because you're the one who has to write them.

- I know.

That's my whole thing.

- I don't know.

I just-- you have so much to offer, and I really hate to-- I hate when you do the, oh, wells.

I want you to work with me.

These schools that we're talking about, they're, like, top-notch schools.

But I want you to be motivated to get there.

- OK. - So how do we do this?

How do we get motivated?

Hello?

[dramatic music] [computer chimes] [sighs] She dropped.

Come back on.

Make sure she is going to come back on.

♪ ♪ I need to be able to just, like, get her to remember why she's doing everything she's doing.

Because I've seen where she's at on her best days, I want to remind her those can be her every days and that she can-- this can be her life, you know?

So I'm not going to be the one to give up on you, so.

♪ ♪ [sighs] [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - ♪ Work all day till my feet get sore ♪ ♪ Keep on working till the whistle blow ♪ ♪ Oh, when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ It's on when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ Wear this mask on my face all day ♪ ♪ Smiling like I'm loving doing what you say ♪ ♪ Oh, till the nighttime come ♪ ♪ It's on when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ Wear this mask on my face all day ♪ ♪ Smiling like I'm loving doing what you say ♪ ♪ Oh, till the nighttime come ♪ ♪ It's on when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ It ain't really over, it has just begun ♪ ♪ We going to be all right when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ Tired of trying to figure what I might become ♪ ♪ I just want to sing my song when the nighttime come ♪ [school bell rings] [dramatic music] ♪ ♪ - Everybody needs to stay safe where we are right now.

Do I think that we're going to come back?

♪ ♪ Probably not, to be honest.

- With coronavirus cases still high across the country, students, teachers, and parents have been forced to adapt to distance learning.

- Tiny droplets with the virus can travel more than 6 feet in certain settings, like choir practices, restaurants, or gyms with limited ventilation.

- We don't have a clear-cut treatment for this virus.

- Low-income kids, as we had suspected, are likely falling farther behind.

- Common App is commonapp.org.

And this is for all of the schools that are not UCs and CSUs.

Most of those schools are going to be on Common App.

You know you're in the right place when you see this woman who is about to drop all her books.

There's just so much to the college application process.

They realize they have to put so many applications in.

They have to do FAFSA, which requires so many documents.

It's very overwhelming for students, and it's frightening.

There's this College and Career Center calendar.

Certain schools have certain requirements.

Arizona State, it has rolling admission.

Howard University, who has three different application deadlines.

- It is very overwhelming, very much so.

- FAFSA, have you created an account yet?

November 30th is the UC application deadline.

UC is currently not considering SAT and ACT test scores and admissions decisions due to a recent court decision.

- The only thing I've done to prepare for college is the SAT.

- It'll tell you whether or not you qualify for a fee waiver.

They're actually looking at the trend and seeing how your grades went.

And they compare that to what you write in PIQs.

Everybody needs to put this program.

It is right here, EAOP.

That is us.

Write out all the activities and awards and everything that you have been a part of.

If you don't have over 20, then put everything that you can think of on it.

Personally, the essays are probably the hardest part.

Give me a general feeling of how you feel about this application.

- It was just boom, boom, boom, in my face.

- What part is the most confusing part?

- Everything.

- My suggestion is to share with me your PIQs, OK?

Thank y'all.

[computer chimes] - I still have my first ukulele.

I was, like, 12.

I just looked up songs that I really liked, and then I just tried to play it.

It's really calming for me.

[soft guitar music playing] ♪ ♪ Up here is my room.

Yeah, it's a little bit small, to be honest.

I have to crawl inside, but I can't complain.

It's the first time I had my own room since I was, like, four or five.

I have a roof over my head.

I'm OK with everything.

♪ ♪ I started playing music because I want people to, like, forget whatever that's happening in their life because that's what music does for me.

It helps me, like, vent out my frustrations or helps me through a lot of tough moments I've been having in my life.

[soft ukulele music playing] - And for Christmas, his birthday, what do you need from Guitar Center?

He loves his music.

- My dream life is producing new music with, like, a bunch of, like, music equipment.

Most of my completed songs are, like-- I lost them because I had to restart my whole computer.

I mean, I can just, like, play it so then y'all can hear it, I guess.

This one's just a work in progress.

[light electronic music playing] ♪ ♪ COVID wasn't here, my ideal senior high school life would be just hanging out, having a good time with friends, dances, some of the football games, singing in choir.

[light guitar music] ♪ ♪ Often, I would bring my ukulele or guitar to school just so, like, I could just, like, vibe with friends after school.

I started doing, like, music and choir, like, starting in high school.

I really wish that we could perform, but I don't think we are, unfortunately.

It would have been nice.

[dramatic hip-hop music] ♪ ♪ - ♪ Uh, I give Bay love ♪ ♪ Kissed by the sun when I wake up, uh ♪ ♪ We from the Bay, though ♪ ♪ All the way from San Jose to Vallejo ♪ ♪ And we don't stop slidin' ♪ ♪ From the town to the ridge to the city ♪ ♪ And we don't stop slidin' ♪ ♪ From the west to the north, to the east, do you feel me ♪ - When we look at college admissions, we have to ask the question, are we representing the population of the United states?

And if that answer is no, that's when we have to start questioning our practices.

[dramatic music] Deer Valley is a very diverse population.

We're made up of mostly Black, Latinx students, Southeast Asian students, Pacific Islander students, white students.

It's a very, very diverse group, but our teachers are almost all white.

♪ ♪ - In the United States, African Americans represent 16% of the school population, but we only represent 7% of the teachers.

And of that 7%, less than 2% are African American males.

Now, let's look at the demographic.

Who's doing the worst?

African American males.

♪ ♪ - Whenever I gave a presentation, I talked to a Black male, and I said, you know, what are your plans?

What do you think about college?

Is it something that you want to do?

Is it something that you've given up on already?

Because you shouldn't, right?

There are schools out there that are for you.

- The more they see administrators look like them, the more they now start to see the possibilities of what can happen.

Cam himself being an African American former Deer Valley graduate has the appeal to our young people.

- They get to see the person that sat in their seat four or five years ago and tell them, you know, you can do this, or you can do whatever else you want to do.

Let's talk about colleges for a sec because do you know what kind of schools you want to apply to?

- CSUs.

- OK.

I'ma be honest with you.

If you do want to go straight into a University next year, HBCUs are probably going to be your best bet.

I mean, I know you went to the HBCU fair last year.

How did you feel about the schools that you talked to?

- I felt good about them.

I just-- I don't know if I want to leave California.

Maybe I could be-- I don't know.

- You still need to do a FAFSA.

The thing I always tell students is you still need to apply to scholarships too.

It looks like you are able to kind of go to most of your classes.

But it also kind of looks like you're missing some, or, like, "not engaged" is what they're putting in on the attendance.

- I'll be in the classes, but I do be just-- I be on mute.

I'm only 17, but, like, everybody look to me for, like, stuff.

I don't know why.

[upbeat hip-hop music] Basically, who I live with right now is my grandma, my stepdad, my mom, and my little sister.

Oh, and my-- well, I got a cat.

So yeah, she part of the family too.

Got to mention her name.

Yeah, and two chickens too.

Yeah, don't forget the chickens.

[chicken clucking] ♪ ♪ My brother had a kid, so he's young himself, so he would just dump the kid to me and leave.

And he would be like, I'ma be back in two hours, but he'd come back in, like, eight.

Yeah, so I would have to babysit.

[indistinct chatter, butter sizzling] Basically, I'm, like, on my computer, like, walking around.

Kid, computer, like this, like a mom.

And I'm just like-- and then my grandma call me.

I got to put this down, put the kid down, make sure he don't fall off or something, and then go help her, run back.

Whatever she need, I do it for her.

If she need me to drive her somewhere, I drive her somewhere, walk around or something.

If she's not feeling good, I help her with that.

Whatever she need, I help her, always.

I just have to.

Right when COVID started, my mom, like, February, she got hurt on the job.

They released her.

She had surgery on both her elbows.

She couldn't really, like, do anything for, like, a couple months.

So I had to help my mom with that.

And then I had to help with the kid.

I don't like cleaning, though.

I hate cleaning dishes, but I always have to do it.

I'm not mad at it.

It's not doing nothing but helping me.

Later on in life, it's going to come easy.

It's going to come natural and easy to me because I've already been doing it for years.

[cat meows] - Do you want to hoop?

- Yeah.

- OK. And, you know, sports, the sports world is tough, especially-- transfer JUCO, right?

So if you have that option available, that's going to be great.

But if not, I definitely want you to be able to know exactly what you need to do.

When's your next tournament?

- 16th, Arizona.

- Arizona?

Are you nice like that?

- Yeah.

- Yeah?

I hope we get a chance to-- - I think we having a season this year.

- I hope so, because I want to check you out.

Make sure you stay on them grades, though, because I don't want nothing happening to where you get an F and then, you know, you're not graduating, so.

- OK. - I know Ahmad was doing AAU, which is basically travel basketball and is a big motivator for him getting to college.

I think he really does think that he can be a good academic student in college and get a real degree.

Like, I don't think that it's, like, NBA dreams or bust for him, which is something that I'm really happy about, because a lot of students are that way.

And then, you know, if it doesn't work out, then it's, you know, whatever.

[funky music] ♪ ♪ [indistinct chatter] ♪ ♪ - Big news is my license.

Since middle school and high school, I've been taking the bus.

Now it's like, when I need to do something, I could just go.

It's a different experience.

It was my dad's car, and he gave it to me.

It's been 11 days since I've had it.

And it's been the best 11 days of my life.

So I feel like I'm blessed to be able to have it because a lot of people don't have it.

I've been going to Fellowship for a whole year.

I just love, when I come here, I feel-- it feels good, especially-- really feels good to come in here and worship.

[cheers and applause] God is a big part of my life, and I feel that I wouldn't be where I am right now without God.

- How are you?

- Hello.

How are you?

- Good.

How are you?

[indistinct chatter] - Freshman year, I was not really involved at all.

All I did with my life was going to school and then going home.

I got you.

- Sure.

- You're welcome.

My junior year, I mainly got out there and I just did a lot more things.

That's when I started working.

But I've done track, BSU, leadership.

- He participates in a lot of different clubs and organizations.

I know he's passionate about making opportunity for himself and being able to put himself in the best position to succeed.

- I know I definitely want to get a business degree.

I definitely want to, like, run a business.

- ♪ Yo, uh, transmitter ♪ ♪ Damn spitter, plan's bigger ♪ ♪ No glamour or glitter, few things to consider ♪ - The Den, it was a student store where you can get, like, Deer Valley gear and everything, like, T-shirts and sweaters.

I was basically in training to run it my senior year.

I would have been the CFO, so, like, chief financial officer.

- ♪ Forever learning to test life ♪ ♪ Don't you stress life ♪ ♪ Live a blessed life, not oppressed life ♪ ♪ See who she is and undress life ♪ ♪ Live your best life, yeah ♪ - I really, really liked going to school.

Like, I loved to, like, get up and throw on a nice outfit and go to school and just to go see my friends and my classmates, make new friends.

Everything has just changed.

Literally, your whole world is, like, turned upside down, and it's different.

[mellow music] - Javonte.

- Can you hear me now?

- I can hear you now.

- OK. - I feel like you're breaking quarantine way too much.

Like, you have a fresh cut every time I see you.

- No, I don't.

It's fine.

- How you doing?

- I'm good.

- Good.

- I've been really busy with, like, school and work and tiring.

- All right, so where are we at?

What have you worked on?

Please tell me you've expanded on those PIQs.

- Not at all.

- Have you done anything college application related since the last time we talked?

- What's on Common App, I'm about halfway done.

So that stuff is almost done.

- When is the first school on your Common application due?

- It will be not until, I think, January.

- When are the UC applications due?

- The 30th.

- 30th, OK. What should we be prioritizing?

- The UC applications.

- But we got 12 days until the 30th, OK?

I need you to work on this.

- Mm-hmm.

- You want to look at the last one?

"Something that I am forever proud of "is my devotion to the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Since freshman year, I have been in my school's Black Student Union."

Tell me why this has been important to you, right?

Why did you become the vice president?

Why is, like, the Black Student Union something that's, like, important to you and something that you felt the need to be a part of?

Yeah, I really like this one.

And this.

Do you feel like there's another question that you can answer that would be strong?

[dramatic music] What's the biggest challenge you've ever faced?

♪ ♪ - Me, being myself.

Ever since I've grown up, obviously I've, like, been bullied about, like, my sexuality.

So I feel like that's something that I've had to, like, grow into and then be able to embrace, I guess.

- You think that's worth talking about?

You think that's something you can talk about?

- Yeah.

There was such a phase, just, like, going to sixth grade, of just in denial.

Seventh grade I'm like, oh, maybe I'm bisexual.

And then eighth grade, I'm like, no.

You know who you are.

You're gay.

And then it was just, like, ninth and tenth grade, it's just that time of, like, knowing but then not wanting other people to know.

♪ ♪ It's just hard because I feel like any kid that just, like, is struggling with just being accepted for just who they are in general, it's just a process.

It just takes a lot because it's just like, hiding it from, like, family and then hiding it from, like, friends at school, it's just like-- it's like, who do you have?

- Give it a shot.

We'll see how it kind of comes out.

Again, that's your reality, right?

That's your world.

That's what we want to see.

All right?

♪ ♪ I think writing about yourself is probably one of the-- it's so hard.

Like, I tell them the same thing.

Like, I tell them I struggle.

I'm applying to UCLA, UC-Riverside.

And the next two are Stanford and Penn State.

I literally sit here all day and tell students how to write and how to relax and how to just let it flow and how to just tell their story.

And then I turn around, and I literally have the exact same anxiety they do about writing my own stuff.

I'm trying not to be too anxious about it and just take it day by day.

♪ ♪ [computer chimes] You're muted.

- Hello?

- Can you hear me?

- This meeting is being recorded.

- Yeah, I can hear you.

- Cool.

How are you?

It's been a while.

- Yeah, I'm doing fine.

- Yeah?

How was the last quarter for you?

- Could have went better.

My math was, like, a C, and then everything else was fine, like, As.

But then yeah, it was just math.

- What math is that?

- Precalculus.

It's hard for me to retain information with distant learning.

And I'm working on my college application, my UC application right now.

- OK. - I am hoping to attend UC Berkeley or UCLA.

I want to get into, like, a UC, mainly.

I know, like, the acceptance rate is, like, really low and then, like, the standards are high.

And also, I really like the area of UC Berkeley, UCLA, especially UC Berkeley, where, like, there's a lot of boba shops in UC Berkeley, so--[laughs] I'm on the PIQs and, like, thinking about which ones to do because, like, I'm trying to find something really substantial.

- First off, how are you feeling about writing this kind of stuff?

- Like, I've never really written about myself, so it's kind of scary, I guess.

- Tell me the ones you've decided on.

- So the questions I chose was, describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge.

And how has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

And then I'm still thinking about the other ones.

- OK. What are you thinking about writing for that number five question, the most significant challenge?

- I want to say my father was, like, an alcoholic, and then that forced me and my mom to, like, move into, like-- move with family, like, seven or eight times.

- Mm-hmm.

- So, like, I never had, like, a stable, like, living situation, as well as, like, money was very hard to come-- like, my mom had to support me, my sister, and my auntie for a little bit.

So then yeah, just, like, a financial challenge and just, like, familial challenge.

That's what I'm writing about.

- Definitely.

- My dad lives in the trailer next to me.

This is my dad's trailer.

- Our dad has his own thing going on.

You know, we have a lot of addiction problems in our family.

So when my dad kind of gave me the reins, I was, like, 19, just had my first baby.

- Mm-hmm.

- AJ was probably six, seven years old.

I try to be as much of a father figure as I can to him, you know, because, you know, a lot of times, he didn't have it.

So if I can give that experience to him, then, you know, that's great.

But I know sometimes he's like--you know, he wants me to just be his brother.

But you know what I mean, like, these leaves not going to rake themselves.

- My brother always said, all this stuff that happened to us, use it to empower you instead of bringing you down.

I don't know much.

Like-- [soft piano music playing] My dad, he always tried to teach me how to, like, play music or, like, teach me stuff.

He gave me my love for oldies too.

So then I really appreciate him for that.

[dramatic music] [chimes tinkling] My sister's debut, her 18th debut.

This picture isn't from the actual event.

It was, like, the practice because my dad couldn't attend the real one because he was in rehab.

Every weekend, me and my brother would go down, visit him, give him some food, snacks, whatever he wanted.

I have a video of-- we visited my dad at rehab, a different rehab.

He had a guitar that his friend gave him.

So then I brought my ukulele because I think he told me to.

So then he doesn't know how to play guitar.

But then I was just kind of, like, playing with him, and then he was trying to play.

I think he was trying to copy my fingers.

And yeah, it's a little cute moment.

[string music playing] ♪ ♪ That's heavy.

You know?

- Yeah, yeah.

- So I mean, at the end of the day, we are doing writing, but at the end of the day, this is still your real life, right?

So take your time with it.

Process it.

That's kind of the tough part about these PIQs, right?

It's like, it's a lot of reflection.

And then what about your creative one?

What are you thinking about for that one?

- Like, I really love music.

Like, I'm trying to make my own music.

And, like, that's, like, really helped me like, cope with a lot of things and, like, really, like, helps me express, like, how I'm feeling.

- I really like that.

I really like that.

Have you started these at all?

- There's some--like, I'm kind of stuck on, like, how to end it.

I'm not really sure, like, how to do that.

- Right, right, right.

But just know that, like, if you do have questions or you do feel like you get stuck or whatever the case may be, I'm here for you, all right?

- Yeah, OK. Yeah, thank you.

[dramatic music] ♪ ♪ - My first tiny edit.

- Mm-hmm.

- In the first paragraph, the first little-- where you say, "Transformational resistance "described my experience long before I ever understood it," right?

- Yeah.

Her name is Denise Pacheco.

I actually have never met her in real life.

She graduated from the Urban Schooling program at UCLA.

She's just been super empowering.

And, like, we have talked about kind of the research and my work and, like, those kinds of things.

But I think, at the end of the day, she's been, like, more so just helping me, like, stay confident.

- You're giving it here.

- OK. - You're giving the concrete examples here.

Yeah?

- Yeah.

Cool.

Oh.

You know, I keep getting into this place of, like, really being just, like, am I going to get in, am I going to get in, am I going to get in?

- Now's the time to start telling yourself what you would tell your students, which is waiting and being open to what comes next.

Now's the time to just trust yourself and let go.

- Ugh, you're right.

- Yeah.

- You're very right.

You're very right.

♪ ♪ - I think the UC applications are probably the worst.

Mr. Cam put so much emphasis on those.

Like, it was just very stressful.

- I am still working on my PIQs, the personal insight questions.

[keyboard keys clacking] - I texted Emily, hey, I just wanted to check in with you and see how college apps were going, haven't heard anything back.

♪ ♪ - See, I don't know why it's glitching.

I don't know if it's the site or if it's my thing.

No, it's just not loading.

Yeah, it says, remember to send me your application by 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on November 30th.

I think it's the site because I don't think it's the Wi-Fi.

See, it loads it here.

And then it's when I'm trying to sign in because it's, like, glitching.

That's so annoying.

[sucks teeth] - What are you doing?

- I was trying to work on my UC application, but the site was down.

It says, like, "The system is temporarily offline.

"Please check back later.

We apologize for the inconvenience."

- When is the applications due?

- They're due tomorrow, which is November 30th.

- At what time?

- 11:59 PM.

- Well, how do you feel if they open the school back, say, at the end of January?

Are you ready to go to school?

- I want to go to school, but do I want to go to school now?

I don't want--because of the coronavirus, I don't think it's time for people to go to school.

- But I think if they set up the classroom kind of the proper way, with limited numbers of people in there, you know, six feet apart, it's just like going inside the church building, sitting there in church.

It's kind of a similar thing, you know?

- I guess that would be fine.

Just it would feel weird.

I'd rather just be at home.

- I mean, I'm just-- yes, I understand that.

If you don't feel comfortable, yeah.

- With everything going on in the coronavirus, who knows if it'll still be here in a year from now?

And it's like, why, a year from now, would I, like, want to, like-- say if I was to get into, like, one of the UCs but, like, I can't even actually go there, everything's online, that's just, like-- it's a waste of money.

And then it's just like, I'm not really living the experience there, where, like, you was acting like you wanted me to go straight to a UC.

- Wherever you decide to go, that's fine with me, long as you decide to go there.

I don't want you just to go somewhere I want you to go because that's not going to make you happy, and you're not going to probably be successful because you don't want to be there.

I don't have a problem with you going to community college, long as you're going to college.

♪ ♪ - Today is November 30th.

It was supposed to be the day that UC applications were due, but because there were some technical difficulties with the application yesterday, they extended the deadline.

♪ ♪ Oh, and there's Ebei.

- Hello.

- Hello.

[computer chimes] - Hey.

- How you doing?

Can y'all actually do me a favor?

I actually want to say something to the two of you.

I really need your help with your friend Kadynce.

I feel like she's kind of, like, stressed out about this whole thing.

So I need y'all to help me help her, OK?

Please.

- It's all good.

I can help.

- Like, she's just, like, not writing a whole lot.

And I'm trying, but I need you to help me, please.

- I'll talk to her later.

- Thank you.

Thank you, Ebei.

- I mean, I talk to Kadynce, like, every day, so I mean, like, I know, know, like what goes on with her.

[FaceTime ringing] [phone chimes] - Kadynce, are you asleep?

- No.

- You sure?

- Yeah, I'm sure.

- Have you submitted yet?

- No.

I really don't plan on it.

- [laughs] - I really don't.

- Why?

Did you see Javonte's Snap?

Wait, do you have Javonte on Snapchat?

- Yeah.

- Did you see his story?

- No.

Let me go look.

- Go watch it.

- "The deadline for the UC application has been extended to 11:59 PST, Friday, December 4th."

- I seen that it was extended.

I was like, wow, look at God, because he knew I wasn't going to have it done by today.

It's stressful.

And the whole application part is fine.

It's just the essays.

That's where it takes the most of your time and your energy.

You're just like, oh, my goodness, because you're just stuck.

You don't know what to write about.

You're just in a blank spot, and nothing.

Nothing is coming to mind.

- What about Howard?

Have you finished your Howard application?

- No, you know good and darn well I have not.

Mm-mm.

Have you?

- Mm-mm.

The way Mr. Cam tore apart my PIQs yesterday had me embarrassed.

- I was like, wow.

- I was like, dude, how are you--[laughs] I was like, I didn't even think you could edit such a small amount of words.

- At least you got it done, though.

You submitted yours.

Need to get on track with you and follow your footsteps and get my stuff together, literally.

But hey.

- Hey.

- [laughs] Yeah.

It's just crazy.

Oh, my gosh.

[festive music] [laughter] - Is this an ornament?

I don't even know.

- Yeah.

- Oh, that's an ornament.

- Mm-hmm.

- Right at top, then, because Santa.

- ♪ Want you for my own ♪ [humming] ♪ All I want this Christmas is you ♪ - I see a star or a angel.

- Yeah, they got to turn it around.

- I remember one day, the tooth fairy gave me 20 bucks for my tooth.

Chris said the tooth fairy was fake.

- Do you think the tooth fairy's fake?

- No.

- Do you think Santa real?

- Yes.

- Exactly.

Exactly.

[indistinct chatter] ♪ ♪ Hey, Brandon.

- Hmm.

- How's everything going with LSU and classes?

- It's going well.

They still--you know, it's still in.

It's just online.

But hopefully next semester, probably next school year, you know, everything dies down and I can actually experience the college-- you know, the actual college life.

Yeah, what are your plans, like, as far as, like, college?

Like, what college do you want to attend?

- Well, you know me.

I'm trying to go to Howard University or whatever.

- You know, a lot of people in our family didn't even finish high school.

So it's like, with us finishing high school, that's a big thing.

That's very big.

And then we're going straight to college right after.

So it's like, everybody's going to start following in our footsteps.

- Mm-hmm.

- Everybody under us is going to start following in our footsteps.

- Because we're the oldest.

So the way I see it, if campus and stuff aren't going to be opened up again in the fall... - Mm-hmm.

- I'll go to, like, a community for, like, about two years if they're not going to be opened up.

- It's a whole new journey.

- Yeah.

- You know, talk to people who previously was in college that's studying the same thing that you were studying, and, you know, get that extra support.

So it's like, what I call it, connects, get connects that can just-- you know, just keep you pushing, especially starting early, like, at the age you starting it at.

- But, yeah, I understand what you're saying, you know.

Give me some insight.

Yeah.

- It's a lot of work, though.

I can tell you that.

It's a lot of work that you're going to be having to do.

- I know.

A lot of work, Brandon.

- Literally.

- Literally a lot of work.

Yeah.

- But hey, it's life.

I got through it, so you could do it too.

- Uh-huh.

[chuckles] Right now, we're in my childhood neighborhood where I grew up.

I haven't been back here in years since I moved away, which was, like, fourth grade.

But when I first moved to Antioch, this is the neighborhood I moved into.

And my cousins and my granny, they stayed around the corner from me and my mom.

My mom was diagnosed with lupus when she was 13, which is, like, an autoimmune disease.

And it just attacks your immune system and everything.

The day she passed, that's, like, one memory that I just have.

It's just stuck with me.

And I remember I wanted to ask her to get some chips, and, like, I came in her room, and... she was just, like, you know, not there.

And then I remember, like, putting my ear down on her heart.

You know, it was a scary moment to see that.

And then I remember my granny, she, like, pulled me up in the room.

She was like, you know, she didn't make it.

And I'm just like-- I'm crying because it was sad.

And it was just like, wow, you know?

But then I didn't understand at the time, like, what had happened all the way.

And for the longest-- even still now-- I always felt that-- not that it was my fault but that if I would have tried calling 911 at the time that she would be here.

[somber music] But yeah, so that was sad, you know, and that was something.

But I just kind of put it away, not think about it too much.

♪ ♪ I know that whatever I do and whatever I choose to be that she will be proud of me.

[alarm beeping] [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - ♪ Work all day till my feet get sore ♪ ♪ Keep on working till the whistle blow ♪ ♪ Oh, when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ It's on when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ Wear this mask on my face all day ♪ ♪ Smiling like I'm loving doing what you say ♪ ♪ Oh, till the nighttime come ♪ ♪ It's on when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ It ain't really over, it has just begun ♪ ♪ We going to be all right when the nighttime come ♪ ♪ Tired of trying to figure what I might become ♪ ♪ I just want to sing my song when the nighttime come ♪ - Hey.

- Hey.

You ready to be done with this?

- OK, so I think that this is amazing.

This is amazing.

What I just said was amazing.

Would you like to read it?

Do you want to read it?

- I would love to read it.

- This is the--what is this?

The additional comments.

OK, so you can read it if you would like.

There it is or whatever, you know.

You know.

- Looks good.

- Whoo-hoo.

Amazing.

- You're about to cross the finish line right now.

I'm proud of you.

- Let me go and submit it.

- Submit.

- Wait, so if I submit it, it's going to, like, really submit it, like, for real, for real?

[laughs] Maybe it's a sign I shouldn't have pressed the button.

Take that, come on.

Oh, my God.

- Don't press nothing.

Don't press nothing.

I think that was it.

- Wow.

- Whoa, good job!

[dramatic music] - [laughs] I am very excited about that.

- And there was a lot of times where you were talking about not getting through that.

I just need you to remember this feeling.

That huge smile that you have on right now, like, I need you to remember that, OK?

Because this will not be the last time that you hit a wall where you just feel like this is just not going to get done, right?

- Right.

- So remember this feeling because when you go through the adversity, it feels even better.

I already know, right?

You got it.

You can do all things.

- Thank you, because... - You're welcome.

- You know, if you weren't here to help, it wouldn't have got done, so I thank you for that, Mr. Cam.

- It got done.

You're welcome.

I'm proud of you.

♪ ♪ [keyboard keys clacking] ♪ ♪ [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - My plan is to kind of put you all in some breakout rooms with some sophomores and juniors.

We're going to have the seniors kind of give some advice on what they have been feeling about, like, this college application process.

I will be popping in and out.

So I'll see y'all soon.

♪ ♪ I'm excited.

Let's see what's going on.

- [laughs] I'm applying to Howard still.

Like, we don't really know what to expect for the next year.

I mean, I'm kind of just trying to be optimistic about it.

And I don't know.

I'm kind of excited, kind of nervous, because, like, you know, we're getting, like, thrown into the world at this point.

- Make sure that you're doing well mentally.

Don't let grades define you.

Just make sure you're in a good mental space.

- Also, if y'all really into, like, Bible verses and quotes and all that, but faith without work is dead.

That's James 2:26.

So yeah, you got to work for everything, pretty much.

- Kadynce is hilarious.

So Kadynce just told them a quote.

And that's the quote that I gave her because she--[laughs] She was like, Mr. Cam, I'm going to just put this on God.

And I said, faith without work is dead, Kadynce.

Like, you have to put the work in too.

Welcome back.

That was so good.

Like, my 12th graders are ready to be college advisors.

Like, I was ready to cry.

Like, I was so proud of y'all.

I was hella tired.

I'm running on four hours of sleep because I just finished my last PhD application last night.

So I went to sleep at, like, 4:00 AM.

Thank you.

On that note, 2020 is almost over.

But I wanted to see how y'all are feeling with everything right now.

[dramatic music] ♪ ♪ - 2020, every month just topped each other.

It's been a wild year, very wild year.

- The coronavirus outbreak declared a global pandemic.

- The death toll has hit a grim new milestone.

- This is a highly transmissible virus.

- The reality of prolonged school shutdowns as a precautionary measure could be crippling.

- School is stressing me out because I would love for it to be better, like, if we were at school.

- Many of the students I serve, like myself, did not have the social and navigational capital to inform their college-going journey.

I have seen how the critical consciousness they have built over time has been used as motivation to push through barriers to higher education and fight for social justice.

- Say no to SROs!

crowd: Say no to SROs!

- I remember the tears that fell as we were reminded of the Black women and men that were killed at the hands of state violence.

- Don't shoot!

Hands up!

Don't shoot!

- I didn't just wake up one day and be a leader.

But as I've gotten older, I've learned to think before I act.

And this has contributed to my leadership role even outside of my family.

And when it comes to school or even work, I always step up when I'm needed.

♪ ♪ - All right, y'all.

I want y'all to answer a question in the chat for me.

The universe needs to give me blank in 2021.

- My biggest hope isn't for myself but for the world, for us to be able to, like, move past this.

- Universe needs to give me acceptance letters in 2021.

The universe owes me a real, traditional graduation.

I know a lot of y'all felt that one.

I think students are feeling how I'm feeling.

Like, they're tired.

Universe needs to give me more confidence in 2021.

The universe needs to give me peace in 2021.

It's a time of relief.

It's a time of anxiety.

A lot of students are kind of in this place of reflection.

- How does a person express themselves freely?

Creativity--everyone has a creative side and expresses it differently.

- Music is a wonderful thing.

It has the power to bring everyone together, regardless of one's backgrounds or individual quirks.

This aspect of music intrigued me so much that I'm willing to spend the rest of my life dedicated to it.

- Everything that we go through, every lesson, every battle, every challenge, that's going to be a part of your life that hopefully is influential.

Anybody have any closing statements they want to say?

- Yeah, thank you, Mr. Cam, for helping-- - Oh, God.

- Yes.

- Oh, God.

- Yes.

Thank you.

Oh, my God.

- Y'all going to make me cry.

I appreciate y'all.

And have a great break.

That meeting was great.

Like, that was probably-- that was probably my favorite meeting that I've ever had.

♪ ♪ [upbeat hip-hop music] ♪ ♪ - ♪ Man, I'm big, I'm big ♪ ♪ I'm bad, I'm bad ♪ ♪ Won't stop till I get me a bag ♪ ♪ I won't stop, I won't quit ♪ ♪ Keep on grinding till I check me a grip ♪ - My mom dropped me off to my coach's house in the morning so he can take me all the way here.

And it took, like, an hour and 30 minutes.

- ♪ I won't quit ♪ - Ahmad, Dante, they've been with me since 9:30 this morning, and they don't play till 6:30.

So it shows the dedication that these kids have to wanting to hang around this long just to play a game because they haven't got a chance to play anywhere else.

- ♪ Rubber band boy, get to the bag ♪ ♪ Little duffel bag boy ♪ ♪ Got to stay lit ♪ ♪ Being broke was no trip ♪ ♪ So I got to stay on my mission ♪ ♪ Play my position ♪ - Good, y'all.

I had the opportunity to play in college.

So I want to give these kids the same opportunity that I had.

And that's why we probably push the kids so hard.

Why are we not attacking the open side?

Motion.

Motion.

♪ ♪ [indistinct chatter, shoes squeaking] What happened?

Because of the coronavirus, coaches can't really come out to too many events.

So at these exposure events, college coaches get to tune in to these games, which is live streamed, and they can see these players that we have.

And Ahmad is one of the players that needs to be seen.

- You get more looks at AAU because it's like, people from all over the country can be at any tournament.

- That's what I be talking about, where I know you can get a whole scholarship off that right there alone, as fast as you are.

It only takes one good game.

You have that one good game where you never know who's watching you.

♪ ♪ [indistinct chatter, shoes squeaking] [whistle blows] These guys are seniors, so there is no other opportunity for them.

If we don't step up and make this happen for them, how are they going to get their looks this year?

Who's going to want to see them?

How are they going to be seen?

How are they going to get out there if we don't make this happen?

[indistinct chatter] ♪ ♪ We won our game.

Ahmad kind of lifted his game in this last one.

That's what I expect out of him.

We talked about that when he first got into the program.

Hey, real quick, real quick.

OK, way to pull that through, guys.

Y'all stepped it up.

- So he had some possessions.

Then Ahmad.

- Ahmad was huge.

Yeah, I don't know where that speed came from in the last six or seven minutes, but you decided to not let nobody turn the corner on you either.

I don't really think he knows how fast he is and the type of potential that he has and to really reach a higher level.

I need that all the time, though.

- Dog mentality.

- All the time, all right?

Way to pull that victory out.

Team S on 3.

1, 2, 3. all: Team S!

- Can y'all come to the car and get some food, please?

- Hey.

Yeah, y'all eat some food.

Y'all eat some food-- yep, yep, yep.

You know, I love this game, you know what I mean?

I love what I do with these kids.

I love to coach.

I still play myself.

And I know this means a lot to some of them.

You know, this is their future.

You know, they see this as their future.

So I have to give them the opportunity for success.

I forgot, man, y'all like my kids, man.

Let me hand out my plates to my kids.

OK, I see y'all like the little mini weenies.

Y'all grab the mini weenies and cut.

The mini weenies.

Ahmad is here because of me.

Like, this whole time-- thank you very much.

- You welcome.

- We appreciate you.

- Yeah.

- Thank you.

- This is fire.

- Right now, police are investigating a deadly shooting that endangered dozens of children at an East Oakland park.

- Friends identified the victim as a high school basketball coach and a father.

- He was killed, but we do know kids were there to see it and hear it.

Reuben Lewis.

- So I seen, like, a little post from another coach.

And he was like, RIP Reuben.

And I was like, what?

What are you talking about?

So I texted him.

And he texted me back, and he was like, Reuben passed.

I'm like, is this is a joke?

And he was like, nah, it's serious.

And then I keep scrolling on Instagram because I'm thinking it's a joke.

And, like, 20 people pages, it was just flooding, flooding, flooding.

And I'm just like, this can't be real.

So I'm calling his phone, calling his phone, calling his phone, no answers.

And I'm texting my teammates.

I texted my other coach.

My coach never answered.

So I'm just-- I didn't believe it.

And then my mom came in my room teary-eyed.

And that's when I knew.

I was like, oh, it's serious.

And then yeah, it was just-- it was a bad moment.

- Friends lighting candles and hanging balloons tonight to pay tribute to Reuben Lewis.

- Of course, he's my basketball coach, but he was more than a basketball coach.

Like, I looked up to him like a big brother.

I just got to-- I don't know.

It's hard.

I don't know what to say.

[somber music] ♪ ♪ [dramatic music] ♪ ♪