Do you think you have difficulty balancing life issues and school? Senior Jessica Davis, a Computer Science/Computer Information Systems Major can attest to such. Her concerns stream far beyond anything predictable, nevertheless, she continues to uphold in school.
At Shaw University, most people probably know Davis as a genuine people’s person. She is a member of the Lady Bears Basketball Team and she is an up and coming rapper, known as Yung Charm, who has done many shows at Shaw University including the preshow for rap artist Plies and singer Trey Songz during Homecoming 2007.
But do they really know her?
Davis is more than a jovial athlete who can rap. While she attends classes regularly, and is active in intercollegiate sports, she also sustains a leadership position in an elite public speaking club, and maintains a respectable GPA.
“I owe this to my parents because when I went to jail and when the world was against me, they took care of me,” Davis said. In the fall of 2007, she came to Shaw University from Cleveland, Ohio with the mindset that she was going to excel academically, socially, and athletically.
Helping her to stay the course and continue to guide her are her friends and family. “Everyone is important to me because they play some role in my life,” she stated. Her grandparents, parents and siblings are essential. They’ve played the roles of giving her hope to believe anything is possible, getting her involved in church, and simply showing her what stepping up and taking responsibility is all about.
However, there are those that she holds more near and dear to her and they play the superior roles in her verdict to either settle for mediocrity and failure, or stick things out.
“My grandfather is very sick and near death. My grandmother is struggling with paying bills. My stepfather has been working hard but he has been having major heart problems,” she explained.
These events involving those most vital to her had the greatest likelihood of determining whether or not she would remain at Shaw University or leave.
What’s the verdict?
“My family is struggling with money but if I maintain good grades, I’ll get a good job to help them out,” Davis stated. Because her staying in school would increase the chances of helping her family and making them proud, she has yet to give up and continues at Shaw.
Many students at Shaw can be evidence of similar situations. No one’s situation is shaped flawlessly. There are those who have what it takes to get through troubling situations and academics, and then there are those who settle, give up, or don’t care. Some persevere, while some don’t.
When asked what kind of advice she had for those struggling students who feel like giving up, like they just won’t make it, Davis said: “Just stay focused. Develop a vision, make a promise to yourself, and stay strong during the process. Once you’ve met your goal you can say mission accomplished.”