Photo by Angel Johnson

By: Colin Royal, Staff Writer

Brotherhood, unity, and uplift are qualities that Morehouse College tries to instill in all of her students. As matriculated through Morehouse, they allow the institution to alter and change them so that they can become the best versions of themselves. One member of Morehouse’s community that has completely embraced this process of growth and development is Mehki Perrin. 

 

Perrin is currently a third year philosophy major from Queens, New York. In reference to his involvement on campus, he is an residential advisor (RA) at the Living and Learning Center (LLC), the Senator at Large for Morhouse’s Student Government Association (SGA), and a student ambassador. 

 

To say the least, Perrin is extremely involved within the Morehouse community. Within his various roles he ensures that he gives back to his fellow Morehouse brothers.  

 

During his interview, many of his residents took the time to stop and greet Perrin, and he reciprocated their greetings with warmth and humor. Perrin seemed to have a contagious positivity that impacted all that came into contact with him. 

 

However, this positive and open nature was not developed prior to coming to Morehouse. Perrin explained how the person he is today stems from everything that he has gone through.

 

When asked about growing up in Queens, Perrin said, “It’s interesting for sure. It’s not always the safest; it’s not always a reflection of Black excellence. “It’s kind of hard.”

 

Perrin seemed to lean into this theme of hardship throughout describing his life before Morehouse. His life in Queens was colored by an environment that did not guarantee safety nor adequate support for a young Black man. Much of Perrin’s early life was dominated by the idea of how I am going to protect myself.

 

His necessity to protect himself stemmed from not truly knowing where his support system came from outside of his household. Perrin grew up an only child, and his father was not present in his life. Despite his difficulties, Perrin explained how his mother truly provided him with all the comfort and love that he needed. 

 

“Not having any siblings or a father, it was her who held it down for me,” Perrin said. “She’s always been the main constant in my life– the person I know will never go away regardless of what I say or do.”

 

Growing up in a single parent household was hard, but the love that Perrin received from his mom was like none other. For him, she was everything. 

 

She filled the role of both a mother and a father. She provided him with not only the nurturing he needed, but also the life lessons that would protect and prepare him for the outside world. She was everything he needed and more, because of her, Perrin was able to grow despite his environment. 

 

Though he had an immense amount of love and support from his mother, Perrin still felt the lingering effects of not having a father figure. He talked about how growing up without a father was one of the most impactful adversities that he has had to deal with. 

 

“My biggest hardship was growing up without a father, Perrin said. “My father also lived in Queens. He lived five to 10 minutes from me, and he was never there.”

 

Perrin grew up with the knowledge that his father was within arms reach, yet he was absent within his life. This reality took a toll on Perrin.

 

Subconsciously, he started to shut himself off, and he hid behind the guise of nonchalance in order to protect himself. There was no space for him to be vulnerable. His feelings were his and his alone, and he was forced to deal with these things by himself. 

 

Perrin would carry these feelings with him to Morehouse. Initially, he talked about how it was hard for him to open up. 

 

He talked about not wanting to go out. He would only leave his dorm if he had to. However, this would change as he became more acquainted with the Morehouse brotherhood. 

 

As Perrin became more enveloped within the Morehouse community, he started to see avenues in which he could positively impact the lives of others. As a result, in order to prevent other people from going through the same pain and difficulties that he faced, he decided to share his talents with Morehouse. 

 

“Not having a father figure, I do not want to be a father figure, but I want to be there to help,” Perrin said. “Everyone needs help.”

 

Perrin wanted to be RA to help guide freshmen and maximize their first year experiences. He wanted to be a member of SGA so that he could have a form of positive influence over his peers. He wanted to be an ambassador in order to show kids that there are spaces for them in which they can thrive and succeed.

 

Perrin stressed the importance of being a support system for those who cannot support themselves, and he strives to do so in everything that he does. He genuinely makes the lives of others better simply because he shows up and is there for those who need it. 

 

“We don’t get paid, we don’t get any monetary value, but what I get from being an ambassador is enough, ” Perrin said. “The ability to change the lives of others is enough.”

 

His LLC residents also have only good things to say about him.

 

During the interview, one of the students who stays in LLC was wandering the halls, and he interrupted to talk to Perrin. Perrin was joking with the resident, and the freshman eventually gave a statement about his RA.

 

“He always has people over. He was helping a kid write an essay, I never seen an RA do that,” freshman Kali Oden said. “Whenever I see Queens, he’s always talking and helping somebody.”

 

Going forward, Perrin just wants to continue to help others. He does not believe in developing a  long term plan. He prefers to live in the moment and take every day as it comes. 

 

With this in mind he wanted to leave his fellow Morehouse brothers with this message. “I feel like oftentimes at Morehouse we’re made to feel like we’re in competition with each other,’ Perrin said. “I want to change this narrative.”

 

Perrin presented his ultimate goal as building a Morehouse community that is based on mutual success, growth, and achievement. At the end of the day, he just wants to see everybody win. He believes all of this can be possible if we as men of Morehouse do three things.

 

Perrin’s closing advice was, “Be powerful, be peaceful, and be positive.”

Copy Edited by Miles Johnson