Aug 14, 2009 10:35 am US/Pacific
Jasmine Mack: Doing It For The Family
Michelle Gertmenian-Wong
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS) ―
Picking a major is usually stressful for college students. Jasmine Mack never batted an eyelash. As an incoming freshman at Chico State University, she has confidently declared her intent to study Psychology. Jasmine's motivation is her little brother.
Thirteen year-old Milton has bipolar disorder. This January, he started going to school in Utah, where specialized teachers can cater to his needs. Up until then, Jasmine helped care for her brother nearly every day while they lived with their grandmother. Due to medical conditions, her grandma was often hospitalized, so Jasmine would be left in charge.
"On many occasions I had to take time from school and make hospital visits [to see Milton] when no one else could. I remember him screaming, yelling, and kicking because he was told that he could not do something."
He left a permanent impression on Jasmine, inspiring her to dedicate her studies to mental behavior.
"Being a psychologist will help me understand the medical and the psychological impact bipolar disorder has on my brother and families like my own."
Jasmine's younger siblings are the reason she worked hard in high school and is going on to college.
"I needed to do it for my brother and sisters. I just want to be a role model. At times it was like, well, if I give up then they'll give up. It's a big deal for them. They tell me they're so proud of me."
Jasmine lives in West Oakland, where the crime rate is five times the national average. Nearly 40% of the residents live below the federal poverty line and only a quarter have a high school degree, according to United Way of the Bay Area. Jasmine watches her friends work minimum wage jobs or have babies. It's another reason she pushes herself. She wants more for her life.
She attended EXCEL High School, part of the McClymonds Educational Complex. In 2005, McClymonds High School was nearly closed down. It was once one of the lowest performing schools in all of California. Instead, it split into two schools and went through a huge transformation. At EXCEL, students start being prepped for college beginning freshman year. This is highly unusual for an Oakland public high school, where on average, one of every four kids will drop out.
Since day one at EXCEL, Jasmine's six closest friends began talking about going to college.
"My friends pushed me. Everybody was on top of their grades. We'd joke about who was on the train to college. When my grades started dropping, they'd say 'Jasmine's not getting on that train!' I wouldn't have been able to take the embarrassment if I didn't graduate and go on to college."
Furthering her education has always been her goal, and now her hard work has paid off as she heads for college.
"In my neighborhood, I walk down the street and people call me college girl. I'm doing it for the hood, for my community, and for my family."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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