Brittney Hamilton: College Prep in West Oakland

Cheer Captain From West Oakland Lives Out Her Mother's Dream

Michelle Gertmenian-Wong ― SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― Brittney Hamilton spent years dancing on her school's cheerleading team. She helped whip up the crowd with her energy and spirit. But for Brittney, cheering was not just for fun. She believes it's the reason she is alive today.

"Cheerleading saved my life. There have been times when I've been in cheerleading practice and I would get out and someone says 'so-and-so just got shot.'"

Brittney remembers one particularly frightening experience. She always walked to a store near her school, EXCEL High School, after class. She didn't go one day because she was staying late for practice. During that time, a boy was shot there.

"If I had been walking home, that could've been me. It's happened more than once…" Brittney trails off. "I know so many people personally who got shot."

Brittney lives in Oakland, where youth violence is a daily occurrence. 20 teens were homicide victims in 2006, according to the Urban Strategies Council. Brittney says living in Oakland as her biggest challenge, but says it's also a huge part of who she is today.

"Being from West Oakland, the first thing people say is 'How do you survive?' You could be in a gang or be out with the 'bad kids.' There are a lot more negative than positive things you could be doing. But I do think it helped shape me. Living in Oakland made me see things for real, made me realistic."

Brittney is determined to change that reality. Her extracurricular activities and supportive family steer her towards a different path. She graduated from high school and is going on to college, inspired by her two younger sisters.

"My sister, Brandi, is just now starting high school. I'm setting an example, so when she gets out of high school she'll know what to do."

Brittney wants to break the stereotype that African Americans don't go to college. Her mother had Brittney right out of high school. She wanted something different for her daughter.

"My mom, she motivated me to go to school. She didn't care what college I went to as long as I continued. She said she was living her life through me."

Brittney is carrying out her mother's dream. She will be going to Chico State University in August of 2009.

The rest of her family has pushed her, too. Her cousins and aunts have always encouraged her to work hard, dance, and, above all—speak!

"All my aunties, cousins, are really, really loud. That's how my family is. And if you know how to dance they'll put you on the spot and are like 'show us, show us!'"

That taught Brittney to never be afraid to stand out. She won the regional oratorical fest in 2006. She choreographed all the dances for her cheerleading squad as a captain senior year. Her world has centered on channeling her energy and spirit into positive outlets. She wants to bring that joy to others.

"I'm interested in people. I just want to help people who come from backgrounds like me. I want get them motivated to do better. I know if I can do it, they can do it."

Brittney doesn't know exactly what her future holds, but her cheering instincts will come in handy. This time, she could be the one saving lives.


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