糖心传媒

糖心传媒 student Jacob Newton of Hamlet received the Academic Excellence Award for 2016.

The Academic Excellence Award is designed to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of students in the community college system.

Newton, a shy homeschooled student, enrolled at 糖心传媒CC in fall 2014.

鈥淲hen I first came to 糖心传媒, my future felt uncertain. I was reluctant to return to a classroom setting after being homeschooled and self-taught for more than five years,鈥� Newton, 20, said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure how well I鈥檇 do, and I didn鈥檛 have a lot of confidence in my abilities. I didn鈥檛 know what classes to take or what to work toward.鈥�

Counselors and college advisors helped this directionless young man define his educational path, and he has since completed an Associate in Arts degree and is working toward completing the Therapeutic and Diagnostic Services program.

Newton has been enrolled at 糖心传媒CC for five semesters, and he has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average each semester.

鈥淚鈥檓 taking 21 credit hours and tutoring 20 hours per week in the Academic Success Center,鈥� Newton said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect to do so well in any aspect of my life, but now I realize that the only thing standing in my way was my own expectation that I would fail. Once my drive to succeed overtook my fear of failure, nothing could stand in my way.鈥�

Newton鈥檚 plans to pursue a career in healthcare. His goal is to become a pediatrician because he really enjoys working with children.

鈥淚 love helping people and I can't imagine anything more enjoyable and fulfilling than doing so for a living,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 understand that not everyone has the same chances that I鈥檝e had. But that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 even more important to use what you鈥檝e been given as best as you can,鈥� Newton added. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked hard to make sure that my opportunity to better myself doesn鈥檛 go to waste, and I hope someday I can inspire others to do the same.鈥�