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Alumni Profiles

Jacquelyn Patterson

Jacquelyn Patterson at Spelman College in Atlanta, GAFour year ago, Jacquelyn Patterson walked the across Thurgood Marshall Academy’s stage to receive her high school diploma. In May 2013, she became an alumna of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law.

In high school, “I knew that I wanted to advocate for those in my community, but I was unsure how,” recalls Jacquelyn. Early on, out-of-school programs at Thurgood Marshall Academy helped solidify her interest in finding a way to give back to her community. Thanks to Thurgood Marshall Academy’s links to local and national stakeholders, Jacquelyn worked with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to complete community service hours. In this role, Jacquelyn says, “I interacted with the residents of DC and heard their concerns about their communities as well as how legislation affected them.”

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Jereme Speight

369Jereme Speight, a junior at Fairmont State University, is pursuing a degree in criminal justice. He aspires to work in social services after graduating in order to help his community. Jereme has highlighted opportunities working in low-security detention centers in order to serve as a mentor to at-risk youth.

In college, Jereme finds that one of his biggest challenges has been staying focused on school work. He found that the variety of social commitments open to undergraduate students could be distracting, but learned to manage his time and balance his academic and social priorities.

For Jereme, the most rewarding aspect of the undergraduate experience has been the opportunity to meet people from a variety of different backgrounds and gain a deeper understanding of new cultures.

Looking back on his experiences at Thurgood Marshall Academy, Jereme thanks the school’s teachers and staff “for all the help, support and encouragement throughout my years at TMA. I want to especially thank Dean Krein for being there, Ms. Allison for always staying on my case and Ms. Lyons for being an awesome teacher.”

Rashada Coton

370Rashada Coton, is a 2014 graduate of Trinity Washington University. Having received her degree – with honors – in Mass Communications and a minor in International Affairs, she has jump started her career by contributing to theJasminebrand.com, a pop culture website, and by managing her own blog at outlookpress.blogspot.com As an aspiring writer, Rashada plans to pursue her career ambitions – working in the television/entertainment industry – by enrolling in a Master’s degree program at American University in Spring 2015.

Looking back on her undergraduate experience, Rashada finds that one of her biggest challenges was taking advantage of opportunities present at her college: “I believe I went into college very naïve in the sense that I thought things would just happen for me. I learned that hard work gets you opportunities – you can’t sit around waiting for opportunities to come.” Rashada says “the rewarding things about college for me were the opportunities I earned. I learned how to be self-sufficient. I interned with radio station WPGC 95.5 and at the White House.” At WPGC 95.5, Rashada was a street team member: “I helped set up events, interact with listeners, meet different celebrities, and gain great insight in the entertainment industry,” she explains. During her time at the White House, Rashada communicated with constituents by who wrote to the White House with various concerns. Of her undergraduate experience, Rashada says: “college helped me see my full potential.”

In reflecting on time at Thurgood Marshall Academy, it is the teachers, and their firm belief in each student’s potential, that Rashada remembers most. “I remember specifically taking an AP English course and hating the class but in the end I learned that I had potential and the class led me to writing,” she says. Rashada thanks them for “putting up with my feisty attitude…[and] for not giving up on me.”