We go from learning about the airport to learning how setbacks can actually change lives for the better.

In this week's Guiding Stars, a principal who knows firsthand the power of both encouragement and doubt.

From a student who was once told he didn't belong to a leader making sure every child feels like they do belong.

"Carolina Impact's" Sarah Woldum and videographer John Branscum introduce us to Dr.

Travares Hicks, Principal of Julius Chambers High School.

- We've all had moments in our education journey where we felt misunderstood or underestimated, and for our Guiding Star today, that happened to him when he was a senior in high school.

Today, I want you to meet Dr.

Hicks, the principal of Julius Chambers High School, and we're gonna learn about how that negative experience actually impacted him to become the incredible educator he is today.

(exiting upbeat music) I wanna know about the different words that you have for the different buildings.

- We had every hallway adopt a character trait that they want to stand by.

And the whole idea is to recognize a student every month who exemplifies this trait.

- [Woldum] Recognizing a student's inherent character is personal for Dr.

Hicks.

- When I was in third grade, I won an award called Turnaround Student of the Year.

I was a behavior issue.

- [Woldum] After acting out in class, his teacher promised to guide him instead of punish him.

- She said, "I'm going to help you.

I'm not calling the principal.

I'm going to help you."

Started making nothing but straight A's.

And I made A's and B's throughout my academic career from 6th to 12th grade, and it was because of that one teacher.

- [Woldum] But another teacher almost derailed everything he had worked for.

- My senior year of high school, I was in Honors English 5.

First day of class, and I said, "Hey, I belong in this class.

Are you the teacher?"

And at the time, I had long, long dreads, way longer than what I have now.

Of course, I looked maybe like a kid who probably wouldn't be in an honors class to that teacher.

And she said, "No, you don't belong in this class."

She was looking down at her roster.

In that moment, I felt extremely small.

- [Woldum] Yet once again, another adult steered him back on track.

- I went to my guidance counselor and I told him, I said, "Hey, I want to change this class."

He said, "Well, there's one or two things you can do.

You can run from it or you can muster up the energy and courage to go in there and prove the teacher wrong."

I was the only Black male in the class at the time, and I had to figure out a way to prove myself right, not proving the teacher wrong.

I persevered and I ended up making a 99 in that class, and I really did that from just self-motivation and wanting to to prove myself that I belong.

- [Woldum] That experience fueled Dr.

Hicks' determination, guiding him ultimately into leadership at Julius Chambers High School.

Today, he's transforming lives and reinforcing the message that every child belongs.

And belonging doesn't mean lowering the bar.

He leads with what he calls the three Rs, relatability, relationships, and rigor.

- Once you're able to build that relatability, you're able to build that natural relationship because kids now see, "Wow, he knows.

He did enough homework to know that I'm interested in this certain thing."

And then naturally, that allows me to increase the rigor.

You know, that I'm not setting out to make your life difficult.

When I challenge you, I'm trying to help you become a better version of yourself.

- [Woldum] His relatability inspired junior class president, Eric Cortez, to nominate Dr.

Hicks as a Guiding Star.

- My favorite thing is that he's just very personal.

You're always gonna wave at him.

He'll always give you a fist bump.

He's always interested in what you're doing, what's going on.

- [Woldum] The two teamed up and created what they call talk-back sessions, safe spaces for students to share what's on their minds with Dr.

Hicks.

- And he just basically answers any questions that they have, takes any ideas.

- [Woldum] One of those new ideas, advisory.

- We carved out 30 minutes, and that 30 minutes is to provide kids intentional opportunities to build connectiveness with their teachers.

Our kids need opportunities to explore certain careers.

They need opportunities to explore different avenues.

And they also need opportunities to have club time.

- [Woldum] Dr.

Hicks also launched a young men's mentoring group, led in partnership with the UNC chapter of his own fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.

- Any kid who wanted to just learn a little bit more about themselves, learn a little bit more about manhood and what it takes to matriculate to the next level as a man and be successful.

- [Woldum] These initiatives are creating real, lasting change throughout the school.

- Focus, engagement, knowing how to regulate your emotions.

The kids feel more connected to the teachers.

And I say that with data.

Our discipline is down tremendously.

- [Woldum] And the best part for Dr.

Hicks?

- It's the kids who remind me a lot of the community that I grew up in, and I necessarily didn't see someone in leadership that I could relate to when I was in high school.

So for me, it's being able to show the kids that, "Hey, look, I was once like you."

- [Woldum] It's clear Dr.

Hicks has come a long way since his own senior year with his own educational experiences that have shaped the leader he is today.

One that emphasizes the importance of making sure every child feels they belong.

And he's living proof that with hard work, a bit of grit and courage, anything is possible.

- We are all made unique, but you can be great regardless of how you look or where you come from.

And that's what gives me the motivation to do this job each and every day.

- We just spent an amazing morning talking to Dr.

Hicks here at Julius Chambers High School and learning about all the amazing things he's doing here.

But we wanna hear from you.

So, if you know of someone in the educational world who's making an impact, please email us your nominations.

We wanna hear about cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, teachers, administrators.

Please email your nominations to guidingstars@wtvi.org.