Here at Belleville High School, Mr. Williams leads a program for the male student body. The program, the Men’s Mentoring Program, meets every other Wednesday and discusses how young men should be able to come together in a group to show that they don’t have to be alone.
Its purpose is to make young men at BHS feel more confident and help them become better men in the future. Mr. Williams believes that by coming together to create a space that is safe for the young men at BHS to learn how to be distinguished gentlemen, they will have more motivation to become the best version of themselves that they can be.
Mr. Williams acknowledges the lack of support in our society for men, stating, “It is important for the young men at BHS to come together and share experiences because men nowadays feel like they are by themselves.” Our society views men expressing themselves and showing emotion as weakness. This is known as the fear of vulnerability, and according to the researchers at Goodings Grove Psychology Associates, men oftentimes hide their struggles due to the fear of being viewed as less masculine. This makes the younger generations, who are still learning how to be men, feel as if it is wrong to show emotions. Mr. Williams created a space for these young men to feel like they could communicate their emotions.
Mr. Williams reflected on what motivated him to create the Men’s Mentoring Program. He responded, “I want the young men at BHS to be able to talk about common things in a safe space.” In today’s society, there aren’t many places for young men or men in general to go to express their feelings. Men believe they shouldn’t need to ask for help in tough times, which leads to serve mental health issues. The researchers at GGPA commented on this by saying, “The phrase “man up” becomes a silencing force, preventing open conversations and access to crucial support.” Some men don’t get the support they need for their mental health when they are still children. The lack of a prominent male figure to openly communicate mental health issues may create a sense of isolation and discourage help-seeking behavior.
Mr. Williams would like the program to grow through the coming years. He exclaimed, “I want to bring a sense of unity to the young men here.“ He continued, stating that he has been through many twists and turns on his journey as a man, but despite them all, he recognized he could succeed. His faith in God and dedication to his community has brought him to be the man he is today. Because of his hard work, the male student body at BHS now has a safe space to get together and communicate openly with each other.
