Veteran and Author Wes Moore

Hopkins was honored today to welcome Army combat veteran, youth advocate, Rhodes Scholar and author Wes Moore to speak at assembly. Mr. Moore spoke candidly and easily to the gathered students and faculty, encouraging students to make the most of their time in school, and that getting a diploma is not the point of going to Hopkins. He emphasized that education is the key to being able to make a difference, and that gathered in the gym there were enough brilliant young minds to solve all the problems in the world. He shared with the audience that his journey to current military and literary acclaim was a difficult one. He told us of his beginnings as an unmotivated student in Baltimore, whose mom, raising he and his two sisters on her own, sent him to military school when he couldn't get on track in school. He told an incredible story of trying to run away from military school, and the important lesson he learned that day, as his mother told him: "Too many people have sacrificed in order for you to be there, and too many people are routing for you and you've got to understand that its not all about you." Moore told other stories of his military colleagues, as well as in his experience getting to know "the other Wes Moore" as research for his novel "The Other Wes Moore." Moore's address was incredibly moving and real, and is really best heard and seen first hand, in the attached videos.

Following assembly, a large crowd of students lined up to meet Mr. Moore, shake his hand and thank him for visiting. He then spent two class periods with students in the Weissman Room answering questions and sharing his thoughts on education, the flaws in the criminal justice system, and his work with youth advocacy.  

Wes Moore's book "The Other Wes Moore" is an comparison of two boys who grew up in the same city, with similar backgrounds. One grew up to be a decorated combat veteran, Rhode Scholar and author, and the other is serving a life sentence in prison for felony murder. Learn more about the Mr. Moore and his book on his website: http://theotherwesmoore.com/

We would like to thank Wes Moore for spending Veteran's Day with Hopkins. His visit and words touched many people on campus today, and it was an incredible way to spend a day in honoring and thanking those who have served this country.