[0:08] - It's like school, but not because you have fun. [0:13] Only being here for the summer, it makes me sad, [0:15] but when I come here, I'm excited. [0:19] - [Britney] Freedom School is not a typical summer [0:21] because once school stops, reading stops, [0:24] and I think Freedom School is another way [0:25] to get our scholars to continue to read [0:28] and also just build themselves up. [0:31] - They teach us stuff that we can use later in life, [0:35] and I think that's really helpful for us, [0:38] and they teach us how to do reading, et cetera. [0:40] I like that 'cause they don't really... [0:41] What if you don't have someone [0:42] who can do that stuff at home? [0:44] - [Diamond] It's so positive [0:45] that we should have more of this in districts, [0:48] especially as an African American female [0:50] who grew up in a suburban area. [0:52] It's nice to see my students get more teaching [0:55] in the summer, [0:56] but also getting more of a cultural aspect. [0:58] - [McKenzie] We reinforce with positivity, [1:01] letting them come into the school with confidence, [1:03] teaching them materials that would help them succeed [1:06] when they're little, [1:07] all the way up to when they're adulting. [1:09] So I think with us giving them that fresh material, [1:12] that raw material is what's helping them change [1:15] from student to scholar. [1:18] - [Aleena] It's basically a program [1:20] where you get to learn about different cultures, [1:22] where you come from, [1:23] and it really helped me learn [1:25] how to appreciate what I have and what I have at home. [1:29] - [Omar] They're really accepting. [1:31] It doesn't matter who you are, they'll just accept you [1:33] 'cause this is a safe place to be to express yourself. [1:38] - [McKenzie] It's more than just the school. [1:41] It's about our scholars, it's about who they are, [1:44] and it helps them navigate this world. [1:48] - I'm looking at the youth [1:50] and I'm pulling them along with me to be successful, [1:52] trying to give them the advice [1:54] that I probably needed at that age, [1:56] and also sharing with them mistakes that I've made [1:59] that they can not make [2:01] to make them successful in this world. [2:03] - Believe. [2:04] - Belong. [2:05] - Become.