Meagan Good, Cornell Young IV Inspire New Orleans Students to Aim Higher

Hollywood Actors Meagan Good and Cornell Young IV shared personal stories of overcoming obstacles and pursuing success with students from three New Orleans High Schools during an InspireNOLA Rally Wednesday, Oct. 21st.

The “Elevate to Mastery & Advanced” Student Rally brought approximately 1,400 attendees from Edna Karr High School, McDonogh 35 Senior High School and Eleanor McMain Secondary School together at McMain’s Auditorium.

The rally was part of InspireNOLA’s ongoing efforts to encourage higher levels of academic achievement.

“We want students to see people that look like them and are successful,” said Melanie Moore, Principal of McMain Secondary School.

Good, who appears in “Reasonable Doubt,” discussed the pressures of social media and the emotional toll of public criticism. Having worked as an actress since childhood, she said she struggled with hurtful comments about her appearance, relationships and career.

“Your biggest competition is you—being better than you were the day before,” Good said. She told student to focus on personal improvement rather than comparing themselves with others.

While Good discussed overcoming criticism, Young shared how he persevered through hardship while pursuing acting.

Young, who appears in the reboot of “A Different World,” shared his struggles after moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. When an expected work opportunity fell through, he experienced homelessness, lost his car and sometimes slept in a stairwell. But he kept auditioning.

“Stay disciplined, stay disciplined,” Young said. “Keep the main thing, the main thing. Don’t allow the distractions to tear you away from your dreams and your goals.”

For students like Nylah Dyer, a Senior and Student Leader at Eleanor McMain Secondary School, the opportunity to hear directly from familiar television personalities made the rally especially meaningful.

“These are people who I watch on the screen at home outside of school, so I am just filled with joy that I get to see them in a more professional setting to inspire me through my academic journey,” Dyer said.

Beyond introducing students to successful professionals, the rally encouraged them to recognize their own potential.

“Our kids see so much in social media and on television, so they need to see greatness and remember when they look in the mirror, they are great,” said Tonya Boyd-Cannon, an Artist and Educator who participated in the rally. “It is also for them to know that they have the power to be anything they want to be—how they want to be.”

The rally also featured entrepreneurs, journalists, judges, medical professionals and other speakers, along with music, dancing and friendly competition among the schools.