By Marissa Wells
Contributing Writer
“Black Prep: Life Lessons of a Perpetual Outsider,” by Kimberley Baker Guillemet, is a new memoir that teaches readers how to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.
“It chronicles the experiences I had as I transitioned into a different world but also as I straddled two different worlds,” the author said.
“Black Prep” was inspired by Guillemet’s experiences as what she describes as a “perpetual outsider.”
“As an alumna of an elite all-girls, private college preparatory school in a very exclusive part of Los Angeles, who happens to be a South Los Angeles native, I’ve known for some time that youth from underrepresented and underserved communities can use support in navigating that terrain,” Guillemet said.
“‘Black Prep’ is my story of being a perpetual outsider, not just in the elite private school environment, but throughout the course of my life; and it provides tools to use to help successfully navigate that terrain.”
In the book, she outlines the four pillars of success: embrace your unique strengths, foster resilience, hold fast to your village and be honest with yourself.
“Throughout the book, the different lessons that I talk about somehow tie into one or all of the pillars and show how it’s important to have these pillars be at the forefront of how you navigate and really engrained in how you move; and I show how I did that,” Guillemet said.
Guillemet also includes a thought-provoking discussion section in her book.
“Black Prep” is intended for youth and young adults ages 12-18 and older and will no doubt resonate with readers who feel unwelcome or like outsiders in certain spaces.
“I want readers to come away from the book understanding that they are more than enough,” Guillemet said. “They, by virtue of who they are, their rich background and heritage, and unique life experiences and lens are an asset to any educational institution that they grace.”
In addition to being an author, Guillemet is a judge and motivational speaker. She is based in Los Angeles. For more information about the author and her work, visit theblackprep.com.
“Black Prep: Life Lessons of a Perpetual Outsider” is available for $16.99 (paperback) and $9.99 (e-Book) on via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.
