On Monday (March14), the ladies of Fifth Harmony visited King/Drew Magnet School in Compton, California to speak with young adults during a mentor sessions sponsored by Urban Fitness 911. The singing group and the student were brought to tears as they shared personal traumatic stories of struggle, triumph and growth.
5H members Camila Cabello, Normani Kordei, Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke and Dinah Jane gathered in front of nearly 70 teenagers for an informal conversation in the school's auditorium. The road to success was not an easy one for each member of Fifth Harmony and they were not shy about sharing the obstacles they've overcome in their lives to reach their current level of stardom. The singers were eager to prove that a person's economic or social background doesn't determine their ability to succeed.
Urban Fitness 911 is a Los Angeles-based philanthropic organization focusing on teens living in low-income communities dealing with issues of inequalities within the educational system, fitness, and health care. The wellness program offers these students an intensive approach to nutrition, academic success, and healthy living, all while inspiring change and a productive future.
Thank you @UrbanFitness911 for inspiring us yesterday... We will never forget the experience. #urbanfitness911 pic.twitter.com/wSnX8O0zZZ
— Fifth Harmony (@FifthHarmony) March 15, 2016
"We saw another side to celebrities we don't typically see," said Matthew Whitaker, 17, a King Drew senior, according to Billboard. "They shared experiences and life lessons with us that opened us up to another viewpoint we don't see very often. They showed us that they're people too."
The "Worth It" singers delivered candid responses to a variety of questions about their rise to fame. Cabello, the 19-year-old songstress who immigrated to the United States due to family hardships in Cuba and Mexico, opened up about leaving her father behind in Mexico to venture off to a foreign land where she didn't even know the language. She told the students to "fight ruthlessly for your passions and dreams."
Bandmates Jauregui, 19, and 22-year-old Brooke echoed similar recollections of learning about priorities in the music industry. While the release of their debut album would have been a date of celebration, Jauregui tearfully admitted to suffering through the death of her grandmother the same day. Although she was being pushed to do promotional appearances and performances, Jauregui knew the right place for her to be was at home.
While competing on X Factor, Brooke also dealt with personal tragedy in the family. She lost her grandfather, at the time, she was also looking after her ailing mother.
"This has been one of the most touching experiences for all of us," Kordei said. "It's been a blessing not just for the kids, but for all of us. I think that we are going to leave here ten times happier ourselves because we got to share our stories and got to inspire people through what we love to do, and this is what it's about."
Fifth Harmony is currently preparing for the release of their second studio album, 7/27, scheduled to hit stores on May 20. The album title is a homage to the date the group was formed on X Factor.
