6ix AM began when I was a young child watching my father and other men like him rise well before sun-up to go to work. To be like my dad, I adopted the mantra of not letting the sun rise before I do. Once I became a professional educator, I continued the ritual of getting up before 6 am. As a young father at the time, I realized that waking up early was the only time I could have to commune with God and gather my thoughts. I would arrive to school early to shoot basketball in solitude to prepare for my day. As time went on, I invited some of my students to join me so I could mentor them during this time. Not one of them took my invite except one exceptional young man named Inky Johnson. We met every morning during his freshman year of high school. That time in the 6 am hour forged a bond and relationship that still holds strong today. When I transitioned to a new school, I invited one of my colleagues to join me at 6 am. He also accepted the challenge of discipline and hard work. Carl Woods and I would play one on one basketball and at times work out on the football field. Yet most importantly, just like with Inky we forged a relationship that I cherish to this day. And finally, when I worked at Crawford Long Middle School, Mike Jones and I continued the ritual of 6 am workouts in the gym. And just like the other two men, a mentorship was created, and we became brothers.