My name is Leon'Dre Brown. I attend McClymonds high school. When I met Hook I was in the ninth grade I am currently transitioning into the tenth grade.

I had been hearing alloy about him from my friends they were all saying "did you'll hear Hook is out" and I was like "who is that?" They said that he is a legend who has mad hops, they were also telling me he could dunk over cars and people. Me being me I was like yeah right, because back then I thought you had to see to believe, but now I know that you don't. Later that day I was at the bus stop going home and a young lady named Brianna said "there goes Hook."

When I got home later that day I asked my mom about him and she asked me where it was that had seen him was. She then told me that she knew him personally. She told that my grandpa used to play chess with him, and not only that but him and my little brother's father are best friends. Almost a month later I'd seen Hook walking through the hallways of McClymonds, I mentioned it to my mom and she then told me to introduce myself. She went to the grocery store that night and when she returned she told me she had seen him at the grocery store.

The next day I was in my fourth period class and the instructor told the class that we were going to watch the documentary on his life story. I really didn't want to watch the film because I wanted to do other activities at the time, but I am really glad I went to watch the movie, because after I had viewed it I was so thrown by the changes that he had made in his life. The film made me realize that no matter what happens in your life you can succeed at anything you just have to make it happen. I then introduced myself to him and he surely knew who my family was, and he told me I was just like family. He had then told me to write on the website and he would give me some free gear so I did.

Since that day I had been seeing him around McClymonds campus and he would check on me to see if I was alright, as if I was his younger and that's exactly how I felt. One day he was at McClymonds and he had asked me what I was going to do that weekend. Originally I was supposed to go to my aunts until he asked me to work for him and of course I said "yes."

I believe that hook working at McClymonds is an excellent idea because the youth has an example right there walking in the hallways. Hopefully they'll see that change is a good thing, no matter what stage of your life you're in. I feel this way because a hero is a person noted for facts and nobility. The word is a may be small but it means a lot and I feel it describes a part of him. In my eyes this man is a hero to many, even me.

In June, 2004 I entered a contest called the "Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell Essay Contest." I really didn't try my hardest and there isn't an excuse for that because whatever I include myself in I know I should always try my best. The day came for the results to be broadcasted and I came in third place I was very disappointed not at hook but at myself. I thought that I should've come I first place. I went on the website and read the young lady's essay and I too would have granted her first place also.

Hook introduced me to a gentleman by the name of Courtney Smith the founder of Y.P.A (Young Players Assoc.) Hook got me a summer job with Court working as an intern for the company. I worked for Court for a couple of weeks until I got the bad news that I wasn't going to be able to work anymore due to technical difficulties. The news had me devastated, I wanted to cry but I didn't because I know that God works in mysterious ways and that everything that happens; happens for a reason.

Hook heard about the news and he handed me t-shirt business under Hook Inc. At first I thought he was joking but he was dead serious, I was very happy because it's not often that this happens to me, well actually this happens to me. He has been teaching me business methods and also how to be am outgoing person so I'll know how to deal with business partners. He also is making tidy up my manners, although I already had great manners, he's just making me clean them up a little bit.

He takes me to events to sell the t-shirts, a portion of the funds are contributed to a program called project "Project Straight Path." The program is fit to keep young teens off the streets from selling drugs, doing drugs, or thinking of doing anything of the sort. I am the first teen he has worked with that doesn't play sports.

At the end of the day I thank the man above for sending me an angel from above to watch over me. At the screenings of his films my job is to sell my product to fans and have Hook sign t-shirts that I distribute out to people. I also help him with other things like watching his belongings and being there when he needs me, almost like a young a personal assistant.

Our relationship is excellent. I have grown to love him like family he is almost like a father that I never got to have. He takes me places to meet people, and he always keeps me around positive atmospheres. I sometimes stay nights with him because I enjoy his presence so much. What amazes me is how he calls and checks on me. Even though I came off kind of nonchalant he still showed me love, and I love him for that.

Since I met Hook he has found out things about me that no one knows except for my family. He has introduced me to music producers, and even artist to help me out with my music because I am an upcoming R&B artist. He also has introduced me to successful business people. I think he just wants me to be a successful young black man.

I think he has influenced a lot of people in our community because people look at him and say if he can do it I can too. For the youth I think they look at him and say; dang he's just like me, we're from the same place and all he had to do was make a change and now he's going higher places. Also the youth might look and say he only started on what people may call petty things and it lead to a whole life of heartache and pain, and hopefully they'll look at that and change all of their bad ways and get right. My mom tells me she remembers how Hook used to be and she is so proud of him. But what he doesn't know is that she is not the only one that's proud of him, I am too! Back to diary entries