The Williamsonian Spring 2025 | Page 10

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Many young men who enter Williamson need a while to get used to the strict routine and having consequences for infractions because it’ s not a lifestyle they have lived before.

For freshman Jose Medina-Martinez that was not the case. He was used to living with a strict routine because his mother made sure he always did the right thing and because he was involved for six years with the structure provided by the Green Beret Project( GBP) in Dover, Del.

Junior Kaseem Cotton, also from Dover, has a different story. He had been following the program with the Green Beret Project successfully for seven years, but his freshman year was difficult for him. All he had in life was his mother and sister and his mother was so ill with diabetes that she lost her leg. He became depressed and frightened being so far from her, unable to be there for her. He also wasn’ t sure he wanted to be at Williamson. His bad attitude caused him to frequently receive points and it wasn’ t clear he was going to be successful at Williamson.

But the combination of his experiences with the Green Beret Project, not wanting to disappoint his mother, and his desire to become successful gave him the strength to stick it out. Now, a junior half-way through his 1,000-day journey, he loves Williamson, is glad he is here, and loves learning the carpentry trade.

Medina-Martinez and Cotton each got involved in the Green Beret Project when they were 12 years old. The mission of the Delaware-based project is to“ empower youth through dynamic, community-based programs that foster leadership, academic success, critical thinking, and personal growth.” Their goal is to help youth in underserved communities be given the opportunity to live flourishing lives of personal responsibility and leadership.

The project has helped many young people in Delaware turn their lives around and put them in the direction of living successful lives by keeping them busy with after-school programs and off the streets where trouble lurks. Mentors become father-like figures to young people growing up without a father.

After getting involved in the project they each met Adam Kramer, the Green Beret Project’ s executive director. A former drug user, he found religion while serving a prison sentence. In prison, he had a revelation that God wanted him to dedicate his life to helping young people avoid living the life he had been living and help them get on a positive path.

Medina-Martinez and Cotton were both living in neighborhoods where many youths go down the wrong road. They were both ignoring the temptations

that can ruin a young person’ s life, but were not living lives that would lead to success.

Medina-Martinez grew up with his mother and two siblings and moved several times to different towns and states. For a while, he lived with an aunt. Most of his life he lived in Dover. He says his mother was the only constant in his life- and also, Kramer, whom he refers to as Adam.

Medina-Martinez said,“ Adam saw the negative environment I was living in and the life I was living and he also saw my potential. He had genuine concern for me and did things to help me improve my life. He got me into an after-school program that made sure I did my homework, he had me do community service projects, he even had me go on a camping trip and learn how to fish. I started lifting weights and found I really liked it. He found me jobs mowing lawns for money. I was kept busy and off the streets. He gave me a feeling of family. Adam was the closest thing to a dad I ever had.”

The Green Beret Project has encouraged many young people to enter the military, but Medina-Martinez was interested in pursuing the trades.“ I feel very fortunate that I got into Williamson and Adam helped me. I didn’ t have the money to pay the entrance fee and Adam got it for me. I’ m lucky and blessed. I want to do everything I can to succeed. It’ s surreal that I’ m here. Adam and the Green Beret Project taught me many of the skills I need to be successful at Williamson, such as time management, keeping busy, and following the rules.

“ It truly is a brotherhood here. We go through some challenges together and grow together. I’ m doing everything I can to be successful. I’ m a student Ambassador and work in the School Store. I get involved as much as I can. I have nothing but praise for my teachers. They genuinely care for you.”

Medina-Martinez says he is fortunate to be in the Power Plant Technology program because it is a demanding program and it often leads to good jobs. He already has had one interview for a summer internship and hopes to obtain several more at the Career Fair this spring.

“ My goal is to be successful enough that I can help my mother and one day I hope to get involved with the Green Beret Project so I can help young men the same way I was helped.”

He is now on the path to achieve those goals- thanks to the Green Beret Project and Williamson.

Cotton also grew up in a difficult neighborhood, had no father, and was frequently teased for being overweight. He was depressed and did so poorly in high school he had to go to summer

Kaseem Cotton 2W6

school.

To deal with his situation, he tried PAL, the Police Athletic League, but didn’ t like it because their program was limited to playing basketball. He then got involved with the Green Beret Project whose members saw his potential and gave him mentorship, academic support, and exposure to new opportunities.

He responded well to the program and his attitude improved enough that he made his high school football team and was named captain of the lacrosse team.

He said,“ They got me in an afterschool program that included lifting weights and doing cardio, helping the community, and cutting grass. Adam was like a father figure. He’ s an amazing person. He got me in a program where I was tutored every day. The program was challenging and they didn’ t baby me. They made me do it on my own.”

One highlight of his time with the Green Beret Project happened two years ago when he was chosen to speak at a ceremony of his life’ s experiences in the project to a group of FBI agents in Delaware.

As he went through high school, Cotton didn’ t know what he wanted to do after graduation, but Kramer knew of Williamson and led him to the school.“ He told me all about the school and that they have zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol, which was fine with me because I don’ t care for those things. I like carpentry and thought that would be a good program for me. Adam brought me here for my interview and tours. He’ s always there for me. Over this past winter break, he picked me up and drove me home to Dover even though he lives in Wilmington and then brought me back to Williamson. Over Christmas break I didn’ t have anywhere to go and he found me a church that put me up.”

Cotton says when he came to Williamson Kramer did not help him with his school fees.“ He told me that sometimes in life you have to find a way to pay your own fees. It was a good lesson and it taught me that you have to pay your own way.”

Jose Medina-Martinez 2W7

As a freshman in the Construction Technology-Carpentry program, Cotton had a rough time. He didn’ t have the right attitude. He was disobedient, often received points, and did a lot of KP. At that time, his mother was ill with diabetes which led her to losing her leg. He said it was scary to be away from his mother while she was going through such a rough time. But he says the faculty and staff at Williamson care about you and do their best to help you succeed. He stuck it out and got through, especially he says, with the support Anne Asmann, his mathematics instructor, Anne Frantum, his communications instructor, and Tim Burbage, director of food services.

“ When I was working hard to be a better student and my attitude was improving, Mr. Burbage told me I was looking good. That really pumped me up and boosted my morale.”

Cotton is not only doing better academically, but also in athletics. Fall semester he was captain of the football team and now is on the lacrosse team.“ I love playing sports and they help me be a better student.”

Last summer he had an internship as a carpenter, a position Kramer helped him get, and it helped him realize how much he liked carpentry.

Now, as a junior Cotton says he loves Williamson and he loves carpentry.“ I started out at Williamson with a bad attitude because I was doing it for my mother. I did the minimum amount of work and often got points. Now my eyes are open. I want to be here. I’ m here all the time, seven days a week. I want to have a good life and you have to work to get rewards; it’ s not given to you. I’ m a worker.”

He says being a Williamson student is much easier now.“ I know the rules and I follow them. There is a brotherhood and we help each other. I enjoy helping other students avoid getting points.”

He said,“ If I wasn’ t at Williamson, I don’ t know where I’ d be. I now know what I’ m good at.”

Cotton says he doesn’ t want to be rich, he just wants to have enough money to live a good life.“ I want to be able to pay Continued on page 11