Summer is a time for most 20-year-olds to relax and have fun. That’s not the case for all, though. One 21-year-old is spending his summer, and the next two years, as one of the newest and youngest board of education members in New York.

Meet 21-year-old Xavier Moody-Wusik. In addition to being a new North Syracuse Central School Board of Education member, he also spends 12 hours a week as a volunteer coaching basketball.

“I get a lot of diamond in the rough kids, but I love each every one of them. They all have an immense amount of potential; immense amount of talent. They need an outlet, and basketball is a lot of these kids’ outlet from life itself. A lot of these kids have a lot going on personally,” says Moody-Wusik.

“I like teaching these kids how to become great young men, and my big word I teach them all is 'accountability,' and I think that is one of the biggest things growing up; you have to be accountable for yourself. I was very determined to push my district into the future and into a brighter future and help the kids as much I can.”

Xavier is working to become a high school history teacher. His bid for the board, though, got some reactions.

“Weird looks when I told them I was running for the board,” says Moody-Wusik. “A lot of it was positive, but I did get that weird look like, ‘how old are you again?’ ”

“I wanted to help kids, to see kids graduate; I wanted to be more than just a teacher. I want to be that lifelong mentor because I’ve had so many lifelong mentors at CNS and throughout the NSCSD school district."

Xavier’s players just know him as Coach X.

“He’s a great coach. Probably one of the best coaches I ever had. He motivates the team no matter what -- win or loss. He’s always with us,” says Jamiel Hanford, a basketball player Moody-Wusik coaches.

“Being 21 years old, I connect a lot with the kids I have much better, understanding of what they’re going through and their social trends,” says Moody-Wusik.

“He keeps the team together. He’s a great coach. He helps everybody. He picks on everybody a little bit, but that just makes them better," adds Hanford.

“My dream growing up was I want to help people,” says Moody-Wusik.

Moody-Wusik’s term began immediately after he won in May. His term ends June 30, 2023.