My name is Michael Watkins Jr., I am a Peace Educator Mentor at the Tariq Khamisa Foundation. I currently support Vista High School. I hope to offer support in all ways, but mostly by understanding my students and meeting them where they are, while helping them discover their potential. I want to listen to these young students’ voices and positively impact their lives. I hope to be the mentor students need if they ever feel like there is no one to turn to.
My youth brought much adversity, which led me to not always make the right choices. Going from being a stellar student athlete, to letting it all go and finding myself in some difficult, life altering moments. As I’ve grown from those experiences, found joy in reading (history is my favorite subject), learning about restorative practices, CBT and ways to change one’s way of thinking, I have come to a space where I want to give back.
I enjoy my role at TKF. I can be on campus and in real time, helping to guide young people to not make similar mistakes like I did, but instead stop, think and reframe a situation, so that they make those choices that bring them more of life’s opportunities rather than challenges.
I enjoy going to the beach, playing basketball, taking my dog for walks and spending time with my family.
