We are excited to announce the 2024 Arete Scholars Graduate of the Year, Jamir, a recent graduate of Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This prestigious honor, awarded annually to an exceptional Arete graduate, celebrates the transformative impact of their school experience and their aspirations for the future. Jamir's compelling submission, chosen by a panel of judges, highlighted the profound influence of his education and the incredible work he has done to build a life of courage and virtue.

When Jamir entered the eighth grade, his desire for fresh challenges led him to choose a new school environment-Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This opportunity was made possible by an Arete scholarship.

"Without the Arete scholarship to attend Parkview Baptist School, I know without a doubt that life would look very different for me right now," Jamir says.

He shares that while he didn't have negative experiences before attending Parkview, Jamir knew he wanted something more from his school, and that "more" was a community of friends and advocates-people who could see the potential in Jamir that he might not yet be able to see in himself.

"At Parkview, you're more than just a student," he shares. "You're like family, and everybody knows you. I chose Parkview because I could tell that if I went there, people would help me beyond just school and my studies. I could get help for real-life situations, too."

Jamir graduated in May with honors. His Arete private partner school allowed him to thrive academically, athletically, and socially. The school also helped him discover a passion that he believes will lead to a lifetime of joyful pursuits. He will attend the University of Rochester this fall, where he will major in Theater and Film Acting.

"I have always been interested in acting but never had the opportunity to explore it before high school," he says. "Parkview has an amazing performing arts program. The school is big on the arts and does everything at a high level."

Jamir grew up playing sports, and in many ways, thanks to his first few seasons as a member of the Parkview football team, he was able to develop the confidence and assertiveness to brave the performing stage.

"I wasn't a leader when I first arrived at Parkview," Jamir states. "I was scared and timid about speaking up, but I was committed to the program, which made me a better man and leader."

"Now, I can confidently assert myself when needed," he adds. "I feel comfortable stepping into a leadership role, and I think that's because of the football team."

With a newfound boldness, Jamir finally had the opportunity he had been looking for to step into the spotlight, figuratively and literally, during his junior year. He had always been interested in theater and performing arts, and eventually, he decided to act on that curiosity.

"One day, I was walking down the hallway and noticed they had the poster for the play Hamilton, and I like Hamilton," Jamir says. "So I decided to try it and was good at it. I landed a solo part in my first year of tryouts. That was exciting, and it gave me such a boost in confidence. I could talk to people onstage without feeling embarrassed or scared."

"Even though I had no experience, the teachers and performers who were judging said I had great potential," he shares. "During months of rehearsals and finally the week of performances, I realized the profound joy that performing gave me. On stage, I was in my element, and it was then that I knew that performing and entertaining people was what I wanted to do as a career."

After signing up for the necessary acting and performance classes during his senior year, Jamir tried out for and earned one of the lead roles as Sebastian in the school's spring production of "The Little Mermaid."

Jamir in the 2024 production of "The Little Mermaid."

Thanks to the encouragement he received, Jamir became more comfortable on the stage and improved his voice projection with each performance.

"I'm not much of a talker, but if I need to turn on that switch, it's just there now," he says. "I don't even have to think about it. I can do it and imagine myself just acting on stage. I want to continue doing it in college because I feel I'm pretty good at it and have so much support and encouragement from many people."

The support Jamir has received from his teachers and friends at Parkview has been invaluable as he has pursued his newfound passion.

"Every night after I performed, or even before we performed, teachers would come to the rehearsals and either compliment me or offer constructive criticism where I needed it," he says. "They would also ask me why I had not started this sooner. Hearing those encouraging words made me feel like I had been hiding my talents or not using them to the best of my ability. Thinking of it that way propelled me to keep going."

This perseverance has now driven him to pursue theater and stage acting in college.

"Without Arete, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to be a part of such a great theater program or have access to great teachers and classes geared towards the arts," Jamir says. "Because of these opportunities, I feel that I'm well prepared to join the University of Rochester's International Theater program this fall."

"I also don't think I'd be the person I am today," he adds. "I wouldn't be the leader I've become or as outgoing and confident."

Jamir has grown and matured into an amazing young man thanks to the opportunities afforded him while attending Parkview Baptist School. While he inherently possessed the qualities he and his family are so proud of, he admits that his Arete partner school allowed him to develop at an accelerated pace. All those wonderful qualities-character, empathy, kindness, confidence, boldness, and leadership-would have come to the surface eventually, but Parkview brought those characteristics out much sooner.

"Because I attended Parkview, I have been able to branch out and try different things, ultimately leading to my college major of choice or intended career," Jamir says. "Arete has allowed me to meet so many different people, make friends, and learn how to interact with different types of people, which will be important as I prepare to enter college and adulthood. I hope that one day I will be successful enough to be able to donate and give back to the program and help other kids like me have the same experiences that I have been given."

This summer, Jamir entered and won the 2024 Graduate of the Year Contest open to all 2024 Arete graduating high school seniors. To participate, seniors must submit a short written or video description of the impact of their school experience-what it has given them and how it will help them attain their future goals. As this year's winner, Jamir's entry was selected by a panel of judges, and he and his family were invited to dinner with the president of Arete.

Jamir and his family, along with members of the Arete Scholars team, receiving his winning laptop

"Jamir embodies the qualities that make Arete scholars so special," says Arthur Dupre, President of Arete Scholars. "He is wise, humble, virtuous, and courageous. I'm so proud of all that he has accomplished, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for him. No doubt, the world will be his stage."

As Scholar of the Year, Jamir was also awarded a new Apple MacBook just in time for the next phase of his educational journey. Moving forward, the Arete team will follow Jamir's progress through university and do everything we can to help him make connections through our network to benefit his future aspirations.

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