Decision Day means more education

By Roger Bell, The Daily Herald Staff Writer

Saturday, May 15, 2010

ROANOKE RAPIDS — Students await the next step after high school and share in that excitement as the gym at Northampton County West STEM High School filled with cheers. Graduating, college-bound seniors shared their choices of school with their parents and fellow students Friday afternoon during the school’s second annual Decision Day. “We are proud of our seniors for their work ethic,” stated event co-emcee Jakara Vincent, herself a college-bound senior headed for East Carolina University.

“I always knew I would attend college out of high school,” Marcus Benjamin — headed for Ferrum College — said as he addressed the assembly. However, Benjamin had to admit taking the SAT gave him some pause. “If it weren’t for my father saying ‘son, you’ve got to take that SAT,’ I probably wouldn’t have taken it and wouldn’t be giving this speech now.”

Many see the end of high school as the beginning of a new phase of life. Guest speaker Wayne Kimball Jr., a rising senior and president of the Student Government Association at North Carolina A&T University, sees it as the next step toward greatness for the seniors.

“Some of you may ask, why continue working so hard when I could just stop here and the road would be easy?” Kimball said. “You can never reach your full potential until you believe you can. Why settle for less when you can be great? You are the master of your fate. Today is the day when you take your journey to greatness.”

Northampton County School Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy also addressed the students, and like Kimball, exhalted them to believe in themselves.

“You can accomplish anything you want,” Bracy stated. “You can make as much money as you want and you can do anything you want.”

Bracy also told the students to cherish their time in college.

“Enjoy the ride,” he said. “Have fun, make friends. But remember why you’re there.”

Northampton West STEM Principal Felicia Wyche congratulated the class and gave credit to the parents.

“Without the parents’ support we know most of our students would not be sitting here today,” Wyche stated. “We wish you the best of luck; you are a dynamic class. You are in the best years of your lives, so enjoy them.”

Justin Bolton, who served as co-emcee for the ceremony, was accepted to nine of the ten schools to which he applied. He chose East Carolina.

“It’s close to home,” Bolton insisted. “My Mom didn’t want me going too far for a while. My grandfather went there. It had a real college atmosphere.”

Bolton’s mother Ginny said her son has been preparing all through high school to attend college.

As for why so many schools accepted her son, Ginny Bolton had some ideas.

“His personality, his way of communicating with people,” she said. “He’s very determined.”

Norman Benjamin, whom his son mentioned pushed him to take the SATs, is proud to see Marcus going to Ferrum with the idea of eventually becoming a medical doctor.

“He’s a good child, a good young man,” Norman Benjamin said. “And he worked hard to get there. I just hope he accomplishes what he wants.”

The seniors themselves feel happy to have reached this point.

“All of us seniors are ready to begin our lives as college students,” said Jasmine Clements, who will be attending North Carolina A&T. “We’re proud of ourselves and the staff at West — without them we would not be here.”

“I’m proud of myself as well as my fellow classmates,” Raven Ransom, who will be attending North Carolina Central University, shared. “Thanks to all our parents as well as the staff members.”

“This has been the best four years of my life,” Ebony Coles, who will be heading to East Carolina, said. “I feel like NCHS West has been my second home, and I’m ready to spread my wings and fly.”

Some students feel a little sad to be saying goodbye to their high school classmates, but relieved to be through it.

“I worked extremely hard and I’m very happy I got to know everyone,” India Brower, who will be attending Fayetteville State University, explained. “This by far has been my best year ever.”