Finding a Purpose
Every day, the experiences of the We Rise mentees reaffirm our vision and inform our approach. One particular mentee, Andre Shearin, a senior at Edmondson Westside High School, had a transformative experience when he connected with We Rise, met Senator Hayes, and had an exclusive opportunity. Andre’s meeting with Senator Hayes—and his experiences as a mentee—will continue to shape his story.
Recalling how these connections changed his life, Andre reflects on his continued time with We Rise, “Now I can go to someone who actually knows what they're doing, and I can learn what I can and what I can't do and what I should expect. That's going to help me not give up, and that’s going to keep my head on straight, so he's definitely a big help to me.”
Following in his father’s footsteps, Andre wanted to pursue a career in the culinary arts and enrolled in a food industry vocational program. Driven by a love of cooking and a passion for food, Senator Hayes connected Andre with the general manager of Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, a luxury hotel acclaimed for its cuisine.
Senator Hayes, a culinary enthusiast himself, remembers, “I learned to cook from experience and the goal was to give Andre the opportunity, first hand, to pursue hospitality and be exposed to beneficial opportunities.”
During his day onsite, Andre explored the kitchen, made meaningful connections, and marveled at the amenities within the hotel. This all-access tour fueled Andre’s passion and his purpose. “It’s something you don't experience just living here and growing up here. It was a whole new experience,” he shares.
After touring Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, Andre received mementos that made a profound impact. One of the mementos was a name tag. “They gave me a name tag and everything! That’s my first name tag, and that thing is awesome! I still got it, and I got it hung up and everything,” he gushes. The other mementos were posters packed with inspiration. “One of the posters gave me a little quote or poem, and I put that up on my wall because I like its message; it’s relatable. For me, that helps out a lot, and it gives me a different look of how to view people.”
Andre’s We Rise experience deepened his perspective and his commitment to his goals. “Now I know not to always see the worst in things. There's always going to be some type of value to something I just have to look and wait. I feel as though at this point in my life, that's what I need cause I feel as though seeing the same things repetitively will not lead me where I should be. This definitely gave me a wake-up call; this is definitely what I should be doing; this is my purpose.”
It’s the meetings and mementos in life that create meaning. Take a moment and take a chance to invest in someone’s dream. It will change your day, and may very well change a life. For more inspiration, follow us on social media, and connect with us.
UPDATE 01/26/2022 We are so pleased to report that Andre Shearin has accepted a part time position at the Sagamore Pendry Hotel in Baltimore! We Rise met with Andre’s family to discuss the position and assisting Andre to complete the employment documentation.
UPDATE 01/26/2022
We are so pleased to report that Andre Shearin has accepted a part time position at the Sagamore Pendry Hotel in Baltimore! We Rise met with Andre’s family to discuss the position and assisting Andre to complete the employment documentation.