Charleston County School District, SC Stories of CCSD, 30 May 2018

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Sibling Success at St. John's - Stories of CCSD

Description

In a special Graduation 2018 version of the Stories of CCSD, find out why siblings Zuri and John Zepke were able to excel at St. John's High School, despite living away from their parents.

The success includes an opportunity to attend Princeton University for John, Zuri going to the College of Charleston, and the two of them combining to earn approximately $160,000 in scholarship money.

A

John and Zuri Zeki truly made their mark at st. John's High School. This brother-sister duo is graduating first and third respectively in their class John. The valedictorian for the Islanders class of 2018 has a grade. Point average of nearly 5.30 say is over for I know.

B

A lot of other people talk about it. John I, don't really talk about that much, but it was a big deal in our school once.

C

You know you're number one, you don't want to slip up and let somebody else have it. I might be different for a lower position, but even then, if I was like number ten or twenty I would want to climb up in the ranks. So there's always something to work towards knowing I was number one Zuri.

A

Is set to continue her education at the College of Charleston, while John will make a longer trip to start his college career he's going to Princeton. It's.

C

Still a dream: I'm still shocked, I'm still surprised, I.

B

Knew he's going into Princeton, that's the thing I'm so proud of my brother like extremely and.

C

I was actually on FaceTime, with my cousin, yeah I started, screaming I was like, but not likes. Well, yeah I was screaming and we were both screaming and we didn't know why. But well he didn't know why. But then I explained it was just a joyous moment, st.

A

John's principal Steve, Larson said John is making history for the Islanders. He is the first grad that school community is aware of that will attend the Ivy League school in New Jersey resources.

D

Were available for John to get help to get into Princeton I wanted him to have the opportunity to turn Princeton down rather than never know whether or not he could have gone John.

A

And Zuri's success is even more impressive when you consider they're living here in the low country without their parents, you see before their sophomore year. Their parents sent them here from Atlanta so that they would have a better educational opportunity and that's turned out to be the case. Of course, it helps that they're living with their grandmother, who used to be a teacher here at st. John's, High School she's.

C

Very strong-willed person, strict discipline, so everything any time I need to help. I always came to her and she always made it clear that all you have to do well at education. You have to spend time studying get to do so, and so because that's just how it is well.

B

I knew it's gonna be tough, but I see it saw it as a way to like prepare me for college, because I know it's gonna be exact anyway. So I don't know I kind of looked into opportunity in a good way. The.

A

Adjustment was not easy at first switching from life in a big city to a rural community. Fortunately, they.

C

Had each other she's, like my biggest supporter kind of like a mentor, I guess I, don't know I'd be without her. I was.

B

Really homesick for about a year my junior year, I just was able to I'll get used to it. Acclimated the.

A

Suki's also credit the teachers and staff at st. John's for helping them adjust to a unique situation and excel academically. They're.

B

Just so caring they're they'll do anything really for you and that's something that we've both been able to use and help us with our SSS. When.

C

I was studying for the SAT or the PSAT after I got back the results, I would say with Miss Taylor after school. I would go over the problems that I missed, say what miss Leslie miss McLoughlin going over the English answers, miss Davis, just whenever I needed their help. They were there I appreciate.

D

And I'm honored by the fact that they're naming our teachers as reasons for their success, that's true of st. John's people come here to teach so that they can make a real difference in kids, lives, principal.

A

Larsen is also grateful for the Zippy's contribution to the culture and progress at st. John's yeah.

D

Well, every year you lose those who you want to model. What good citizenship looks like what? What being a good student looks like people will will remember these two and they'll notice. The whole daily means.

C

A lot to me being my grandmother's uh grandson, because you know she was a teacher here and she always talks about the school. She loves the school. You know it means a lot to show that hey the students here can do good stuff academic, athletic wise to great.

B

People loving caring, you wouldn't get that and it's cool I would would have gone to Atlanta, so actually appreciate to be here. The.

A

Next step in John and Zuri's life will be challenging mostly because it will be the first time they've been apart.

B

I love Bram about to go and I think where John's about to go he's going to completely love but I'm, completely nervous, cuz I, don't know how it's gonna be. It's gonna be different. Of course, you know at least we have FaceTime or calling she's gonna be a different thing that we'll just have to both see I was going to turn out what.

D

Stands out for me, for these guys is that the sky's, the limit and they're just starting this journey and I just can't wait for them to see how it unfolds and.

A

They know they will have a ton of support for members of their adopted home town in the low country of South Carolina on John's Island for the stories of CCSD I'm Andy Pruitt.