The neighborhood is what many of these kids grow up in. Ny has plenty of em too. I worked for quite a few years at St. Mary's Hospital in Bed Stuy, which was on Prospect place between Buffalo avenue and Rochester. Difficult neighborhood to say the least. Was one of my favorite places to work, but I was even chased by wild dogs going to my car and quite a few doctors were shot in the parking lot in their time there. No silver spoons for Rysheed.
North Philly isn't known as the best place around. Probably one of the reasons he'd like to get a break from it. I hope he finds his niche at SJU. He should be very comfortable on a campus with tons of urban kids, many of whom come from similar backgrounds.