There is much chatter within the streets South of Broad of the tough times many of us have faced dealing with the ravages of storm surges and nuisance floods over the past few years. Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in our own efforts to deal with the consequences, that we can lose sight of many neighbors who have even greater obstacles. Over the past two years at the College Sage, we have been helping a young man and Academic Magnet Student, Jerry Manigault, to reach his college dreams. When he wrote his college essay on his determination to seek the best education he could find, his goal to solve the flooding problems in our community where he lives with almost daily nuisance flood issues at the base of the Ravenel Bridge, and his desire to be a mentor in his community, I just knew his story was one that everyone should know about. Jerry may just be the person we count on one day to keep Charleston dry!
College Sage: Jerry, you have been one of the most determined students we have ever worked with at The College Sage to get to your dream school. How did you choose Clemson University and what will you study?
Jerry Manigault: I chose Clemson University because they offer a strong engineering and computer science program. Also, I chose to attend Clemson because it is an in-state school so it is more cost effective than some of my other options like Drexel University. I will study Mechanical Engineering while I’m attending Clemson.
College Sage: You are graduating from one of the country’s best high schools. Tell us the story. How did you get there?
Jerry Manigault: When I was in middle school, I became aware that the school I was zoned to attend was closing me off from a great deal of opportunity. My middle school math teacher, Ms. Jaret, encouraged us to apply to Academic Magnet High School. However, one requirement was that students take Algebra 1 prior to ninth grade year so Ms. Jaret introduced the first Algebra 1 program. I excelled in that requirement, earning a 96 grade. Another requirement of Academic Magnet was the Explore ACT test. When the admissions decisions were mailed out, everyone was excited and anxious. After all that work, I was sad to hear that everyone was rejected except for one student; he was waitlisted. My spirit was broken!
So in 9th grade, I had no choice but to attend the high school I was zoned for. I attended the AP program at Burke. Almost immediately, I realized the achievement gap between Academic Magnet High School and the AP program at Burke. I really wanted to attend Magnet to pursue a greater educational opportunity and so, determined, I reapplied. This was an extensive process including even emailing the principal messages.
My determination paid off. I eventually got accepted into Magnet. I was excited and speechless! It was a difficult transition from Burke to Academic Magnet. The standards at Magnet are far more rigorous than those at Burke. My experience at Magnet has been life-changing, even though it was really, really difficult. I have learned so much about myself. I learned first hand to never give up and keep going to achieve my goals, even when it seems almost impossible. I have learned determination, perseverance, how to manage stress, time-management skills, how to be a team player, and most importantly, the value of hard work.
College Sage: I know every AMHS student has to do a two-year thesis. Tell us about yours.
Jerry Manigault: I have many interests so it was difficult to decide what to research but I researched the Effect of After School Programs on Student Academic, Physical and Emotional Success. Sophomore year at Magnet is regarded as the easiest year, but for me it was difficult as I was playing catch-up from the get-go. This year of high school was the hardest year of my educational career. I received a lot of support, but the workload was overwhelming. This is when I truly started to value Kids on Point (kidsonpoint.org), the after school squash program that I had attended all through high school. I learned that exercise is an excellent way to offset the stress in life. In the end, I wrote a 40 page thesis on the topic! The purpose was to evaluate quantitative and qualitative success factors from these programs. My thesis was a great capstone to my own personal experience.
College Sage: What is your favorite book and why?
Jerry Manigault: My favorite book is The Color of Water - an autobiography by James McBride. His story became a goal for me – as like me, he grew up in a single parent household with limited means. Through great determination, he persevered, graduated from college, and became a successful community member and author.
College Sage: Who else inspires you?
Jerry Manigault: My mother inspires me. While she may not demonstrate financial success, she always tells my sister and me that she loves us. She encourages me to do my best.
College Sage: You have been selected to receive over $25,000 of scholarships from various members of the Charleston community. How does that feel?
Jerry Manigault: I am very thankful for all of the donors and foundations that gave me scholarship money. I especially want to give thanks to The Coastal Community Foundation because I was selected as a 2018 Reverend Pinckney Scholar. All in all, I feel connected with the Charleston community because they are willing to help me pay for college.
College Sage: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Jerry Manigault: I hope to go to Clemson, become a successful engineer, return to my community and help solve the problem of flooding in my neighborhood, become a successful community member, and become a role model and mentor for young people in my community.
Go Jerry! Go Tigers! For more information on how you can help members of your community with demonstrated need to reach their college dreams, please contact thecollegesage.com.
