Alumni Spotlight Feature: Otiz Porter, PhD

Choosing Your Own Path

  by Amber Moses & Nefertiti Cooper 

Photo: Courtesy

If you look at the success of many Phoenix Alumni it will tell you a lot about the history of our school. When alumni go on to do remarkable things, they give their former school and teachers an outstanding rating as an institution of learning. Showcasing to their colleges and the world all they they learned during their high school years.

This is where Dr. Otiz Porter comes in to play. Dr. Porter is not only a college professor, he is an accomplished author. His latest book, an autobiography titled, Dear Anonymous Friend was recently released this past fall. Before he became the dynamic force he is today, he was once a student at the best high school in the city, our very own, University High School. Through the years, he’s become more diligent and learned some discipline for what he's referred to as his “colorful behavior”.  In spite of his travelling on the tumultuous road and not the one "less traveled", we would argue that it all paid off in the end.

Recently, Dr. Porter paid a visit to his alma mater. We took him on a tour of his old school. Where we learned nothing much has changed except the school now has law room and a weight room. Oh and the gym has been updated-- some of the mounted posters have been here since the '90s. During our walk, Dr. Porter chatted with Nefertiti Cooper and myself. This is what we talked about:

What college(s) did you attend after graduating from University?

"I began at Essex County College, where I completed my Associates Degree. My Bachelor's is from the University of Houston. My Master's and Doctorate are from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology."

Do you think UHS adequately prepared you for college and/or a career?

"College, absolutely. When I entered Essex County College, I found I was academically leaps and bounds ahead of my other local Newark Public School peers. I had no idea how prepared I was until I was actually in college. Career, in some regards. We had minimal career training courses at UHS, because the focus was truly on getting us into and to complete college."

What is your fondest memory from your days at University?

"Well, I was infamous during my days at UHS, I will say that much. Being a young man of such colorful behavior, there are so many fun memories from which to pull. However, if I must choose one, it forever remains the day, during my senior year, my mother came to the playground during my lunch, slapped me across the face, and then pulled me inside the building after being informed of my colorful behavior during my Spanish class, about 20 minutes prior to her appearance. Superbly embarrassing in every way, which is why it is so hilariously epic to this day."

What advice would you give to current University students?

"As a college/university professor, I often encounter first year students and the most difficult obstacle to surmount tends to be preparedness for the rigor of college and life in general after high school. My advice would be learn your abilities and limits. In college, professors often do not know you as well as high school teachers. Therefore, we do not have the same investment in you. Understand how much work you are capable of handling, learn to schedule your time, and be responsible for yourself. Life after high school can be very liberating and exciting or it can be suffocating and riddled with obstacles. Your fortitude, coping skills, and preparedness will determine your path."

If you had to do high school all over again, what would you do differently?

"I would start playing basketball sooner. Playing sports truly changed my entire outlook on life and my education. Before I began to play basketball I was certain I would become a professional model, and thus, did not take my studies seriously. However, once I began to play basketball and needed a certain G.P.A. to remain eligible (and to keep my mother off my back) my studies grades became the most important aspect of high school. Basketball gave me direction and structure."

What did you most look forward to doing at school?

"I'm going to guess this is about high school since it is not specified. My favorite part of the day was lunch, of course. I love to eat. Also, lunch was the one time of the day where everyone was accessible and allowed to break free of the social obligations of the classroom. Additionally, I loved my English courses. I loved to read and my English teachers at UHS had vocabularies that were so far beyond my limited comprehension at the time. I would write down words they used and look them up when I was home alone. I gather my love of writing started then."

What personal attributes do you think are essential for success in your profession?

"As an International Psychologist it is important I am constantly listening, analyzing, and understanding. I must be open to and respectful of differences. More than open, I must seek out differences and create a safe space where people feel included. In my field, I have encountered the proverbial "other" often, as the job requires this. Going into other countries and attempting to enact changes for people who usually have experiences so vastly different from any I can even fathom most times, requires a keen sense of introspection and a deep rooted desire to learn. The core of my field is inclusion. I live and breathe it daily."

I want to give huge thank you to Dr. Otiz Porter for granting us this amazing interview. As you all can see, Dr. Porter had some fun here at UHS and he was able to keep school a priority. Dr. Porter suggests current students that we balance and prioritize! It is key! He says, "Life after high school can be exciting or suffocated with obstacles, it is YOUR CHOICE to choose the path you prefer."