January 19th, 2010 |

What do you do when you’re born and raised in a place where the unemployment rate is sky high, the school drop out rate is higher and the poverty rate is even higher than that?

What do you do when by virtue of where you live you are forced to attend a Level 1 or Level 2 high school?

What do you do when statistics suggest you will be a failure and many have written you off, already? The answer: You not only succeed, you excel!

That is exactly what Sara Latonya Tribune, 21 of Gunnison and Renaldo Williams, 21, of Pickens did. They not only beat the odds, they completely shattered the odds to pieces and raised the meaning of success to a whole new level.

Sara and Renaldo graduated from Tougaloo College in May 2009. Each of them graduated with the academic distinction called Summa Cum Laude, meaning "the highest praise for the very best."
Both are going to become medical doctors. That’s correct, medical doctors. Sara has been accepted to medical School at Brown University. She has already been recognized on a national level for her research.

Renaldo has been accepted to medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He was awarded the Barksdale scholarship that will pay his way through medical school at the UMMC.

Sara was born and raised in Bolivar County, the daughter of Mr. Jessie Tribune, a Baptist minister and construction business owner and his wife Mrs. Linda Tribune, a social worker. Sara has two older brothers Orlando and Jessie, Jr.

Sara says that some of the greatest challenges of attending a high school that was on academic probation was having to use outdated text books, lack of needed class materials and no chemistry and science labs. However, Sara didn’t focus on the negatives. She kept moving forward and graduated as valedictorian of her class.

She says it bothered her that many of her classmates had a tendency to set "low" goals choosing to be occupational "assistants" as opposed to striving for higher professions. She says her personal "drive to achieve" sometimes set her apart from her classmates. She credits her family and teacher support for instilling high expectations in her at an early age. Sara enjoyed living in her Delta community where she says, "People know each other".

Renaldo is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Williams. His father works in the construction business and his mother, Mrs. Vanessa Williams is employed at Nissan. Renaldo has a younger brother, Reginald.

Renaldo was also class valedictorian of his Level 1 high school. He too, refuses to focus on the negative stereotypes about the Delta, but admits that environment and lack of exposure can limit you. He believes you must be self motivated to look beyond where you live.

Renaldo remembers the "makeshift" science labs at his school and is quick to express his appreciation for the innovative instructors that made a way to help him succeed, in spite of the odds.

He says his mother would constantly tell him, "Read to succeed, Renaldo. Read to succeed." He followed that advice. His father always insisted on Renaldo getting his homework done before play or other activities.

In order to be successful, Renaldo says you must have a positive attitude and learn how to talk to people. Most of his closest friends attend college.

Both Sara and Renaldo urge parents to be involved with their children’s education by getting to know their teachers, instilling reading and good behavior and making sure kids are involved in constructive activities.

They urge young students to read all they can, study hard, practice abstinence, and to always be respectful. "Respect and good attitudes will open doors for you," says Renaldo.

Sara and Renaldo were Jackson Heart Study Scholars at Tougaloo College. They credit a large portion of their college success to the summer programs for high school students, such as the Summer Science Program at Tougaloo.

"The summer programs made all the difference" says Sara. "These programs introduce students to college life while still in high school. They help prepare you for the coursework ahead and put you in line for financial assistance when it is time to go to college."

Renaldo agrees, "The support system at Tougaloo is really strong. They do everything possible to help you succeed."

"These two young scholars are on their way in a big way. They didn’t allow obstacles to give them an excuse to be mediocre or to fail," says Dr. Wendy White, at Tougaloo College.

Once you make up your mind that you are going to complete high school and graduate, it is a matter of staying focused and doing what needs to be done to make it happen. There is no room for excuses if you are committed to reaching your goal. Where you come from won’t matter. Where you’re headed is what really counts. It begins with a high school diploma.

Reprinted by kind permission of Delta NEXT! Magazine