COLUMN: Just the Way It Is — Graduates’ strengths should serve them well

This has been a truly exciting academic year for most seniors at Lake City High School and for me as a reporter attempting to tackle the education beat.

Since 2007, this is the first graduating class that I have had the pleasure of getting to know really well. I was fortunate to have reported stories on several students in the 2009 graduating class of Lake City High School who have made their marks academically and as athletes.

In November 2008, I interviewed Charles Albert Crosby Jr. and Amy Lee Kirby, who are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. Crosby said then that he wants to attend a four-year university and major in physics. I truly believe the sky is the limit for this young achiever who has remained focused throughout his high school days.

Although Crosby is soft-spoken, he is a leader, thinker, academician, musician and athlete. I can see Crosby following in the footsteps of the late Dr. Ronald E. McNair, who earned a Ph.D. in physics from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In addition to physics, another similarity between Crosby and McNair is the fact they both are musicians and have a love for music.

Kirby’s personality and wit will definitely take her far. She is a very smart young lady who always seems to find a way to add humor in conversations. She said in November that she wanted to attend Clemson University and that her ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian. Kirby can and will attain this goal.

During this past year’s South Carolina Tobacco Festival, Kirby held a pet snake in her hands while I took a picture of her doing it. I was extremely nervous, but Kirby was as calm as could be. She has a sincere passion for animals and said during the interview in November that that she has two dogs, two cats, eight horses and two snakes.

There was never a doubt senior Kentrell Palmer would emerge into a leader. He said in August 2008 that, being the oldest of three children, he is always in charge of his siblings and being a leader comes “easy” to him.

During the summer, before embarking on his senior year, Palmer was named secretary of Palmetto Boys State, the third-highest office held at the University of South Carolina.

Recently, Palmer said that he was going to attend Furman University. Palmer will do well at anything he sets his mind to. I can see Palmer as a major motion picture actor or even as a politician. Palmer embodies charisma and intelligence, which will enable him to adapt to any profession or discipline he plans to follow.

Lake City High School administrators and coaches say senior Terrance Williams leads with laughter. They also say Williams has endless potential and possibilities.

I agree with them. Williams made a name for himself both in football and wrestling. He told me in January that “football is something I love; wrestling is something I do.” He said in five years or so, he plans to return to Lake City to teach physical education.

I think Williams will be an exceptional physical education teacher, and I’m certain his future students will learn and grow from his love of sports. Williams, with an athletic frame, has a great sense of humor and is articulate.

Although I didn’t get to interview senior Niah B. Singletary for a news story, I have become very close with her and have adopted her as a niece. Her mother, Melissa Singletary, and I are like siblings.

Singletary, who is also an honor graduate, is a down-to-earth individual who is able to engage in conversations on various subjects. I was able to “see her off” to her senior prom and take pictures of her as she departed with her date.

Singletary is gifted in many ways and is determined to succeed against all odds. She has decided to attend Clemson University and major in psychology, and I’m hoping after that she will attend medical school. 

I also would like to wish the best of luck to other 2009 graduating seniors: Desmond Haygood, Kayla Bramlett, Shane Miles, Reggie Weatherford, Alisha Graham, Cody Beard, Larrisa McDowell, Nakira Moore and Chelsey Yarborough.

I leave you all with two of my favorite quotes. The first is by Louis Nizer: “Education is not the accumulation of knowledge, but the ability to find it.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson put it best when he said, “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”