Timothy Norfleet

“We fight hard for our reasons,

But we won’t fight hard for our goals.”

We don’t use the word “excuse,” we use the word “reason.” We use it to get over, to pamper: “the reason I didn’t....” “the reason I couldn’t...” In Yonkers Green Connection there’s none of that. Ms. Dukes wouldn’t even entertain it. So now, we don’t look for reasons, we look for goals. We search for ways to reach – to exceed – our goals.

I am proud to be a part of this group – the 15 Elite –, and prouder still to say that I genuinely like and respect everybody in this group. They are the most talented, interesting people I have ever seen. We all have very different personalities, be we are one team. We count on Ms. Dukes and it feels great to know that she counts on us, too.

Ms. Dukes helps us shine. When we first came, we were 15 talented people, but even we didn’t believe why we were picked. Some of us had damaged self esteem due to our life experiences. She saw it. Whenever we feel like we’re going to fold, she doesn’t pamper us, she makes us face our fears.

This group is like taking a pebble and tossing it in the water. The positive effects of this program will ripple through us, through our relationships, families, communities and thorough generations. By working hard and achieving we will make it easier for others who come after us and that’s ok. A legend is someone who leaves something behind, who makes a mark, and everyone in this group is a legend.