Dates with destiny
Midwood seniors prove that choice triumphs chance, chaos
by Anna Butler
anna@thecharlotteweekly.com

Midwood High School's 2007 seniors are all slated to graduate Monday, June 11. Top row from left: Kenneth Acquaviva, Fenelus Charles, Octavia Clipper, Chukwuemeka Duru-Iheoma, Patrick Rees, Christopher Williams, Jadarian Bradley, Alexia McClain, Anthony Hutchinson, Shanee Gibson. Middle row: Ja’Quella Lampkin, Lillie Williams, Alexandra McKnight, Krista Dominquez, Timothy Blakney, Shanel Allen, Cedale Johnson, Latoya Pettis, Gregory Council. Bottom row: Trevor Booth, Larisha Grier, Jennifer Williams, Jennifer Byrd, Vanesha Young, Edmund Phillips and Phillip Young.

Midwood High School’s principal Jametta Martin-Tanner made sure to whisper words of wisdom in more than a few ears over the past year. During her first full year at Midwood High School, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools alternative school, she and the closely knit staff have dedicated themselves to guiding chaos toward accomplishment. Their efforts have proven fruitful.

On Monday, June 11, 26 seniors plan to walk across the graduation stage toward diplomas that represent the welcome mats of their futures, and all 26 plan to continue their educations at either colleges or trade schools. Whatever the circumstances, Midwood High’s class of 2007 has built a strong foundation out of what was once the rubble of their lives. The following three Midwood students molded life’s chaos into a very successful date with destiny.

A chance encounter
Alexandria McKnight just completed the mile run, one of her last remaining exit requirements as a Midwood High senior. Her face, fresh but ruddy, lends the impression that running is not her favorite activity. “I definitely won’t miss P.E.,” she said with a laugh. “At least I made it under the 15-minute mark, though.” This final run wasn’t the only goal in which Alexandria triumphed; her battle to graduate has often emulated a marathon more closely than a mile.

Alexandria took a chance on Midwood when the school took a chance on her. As a seasoned CMS transient, her record indicated she was not likely to stay in one place for long. A heated altercation with another student resulted in an expulsion, prompting her to leave schooling altogether. “I was really depressed,” she said. “My mom had died, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life.” Thus began her run out of the rain.

With thoughts focused on her mother, Alexandria set her sights on higher goals rather than let herself fall by the wayside into the sludge of student statistics. “I didn’t want to be a dropout,” she said. Alexandria had to take concurrent classes to stay on course for graduation. Often her days were extended until 6:30 p.m. in order to regain the year’s worth of credits she had missed. “Midwood has helped me keep going and not give up,” said Alexandria. “At other schools, I got lost in the crowd. I had to be open-minded and realize the staff here only wanted to help me.”

Her run is now in full stride and the finish line has just been extended with plans to study business administration this fall at UNC Greensboro.

Alexandria McKnight, left, and class president Ja’Quella Lampkin, right, are dually ranked as Midwood’s No.1 students. The seniors have overcome personal obstacles with the help of Midwood’s staff including Principal Jametta Martin-Tanner, center. McKnight and Lampkin plan to attend college this fall.

Now four years later, Ja’Quella and her daughter, Ja’Niya, are planning a move to Boone, where Ja’Quella will be attending Appalachian State University and living in an on-campus apartment. “Everyone at Harris Teeter knows how much I love Appalachian,” she said of her co-workers at her part-time job.

College wasn’t always in the picture for Ja’Quella, who couldn’t imagine graduating, let alone furthering her education. “After I had my baby I had the chance to leave, but I decided to stay,” she admitted. Now as the senior class president, Ja’Quella is ranked No.1 in her class and has served as a senior advisor.

“I want to encourage everyone else who feels like they can’t finish school that Midwood is the place to be,” she said. “I don’t want to leave, but I have to, and I’ve told everyone that I am going to come back. Midwood has been great for me. This is a school where, really, no child is left behind. There have been a lot of obstacles, but I think I have overcome a lot and they have really helped me.” She added, “Like my mom told me, (having Ja’Niya) wasn’t a stop sign but a speed bump to motivate me to continue school for myself and for her.”

Ja’Quella is not alone in her young motherhood struggles. More than 100 girls passed through Midwood this year as a part of the Dolly Tate Teen-Age Parents Services program. Although not mandatory, area mothers have the option of entering the Midwood TAPS program to receive on-site child care or at-home temporary instruction. Although many girls choose to return to the school they attended prior to their pregnancy, Ja’Quella opted to continue at Midwood and now prepares to leave with no regrets. “I wanted my senior year to be the best of all senior years, and it was,” she said, crediting much of the success to Principal Martin-Tanner. “I am excited about June 11, but I really don’t want to go,” she said. “Midwood and everyone here have been great for me.”

From the rubble
It’s not often that one meets an individual named Resurrection. Yet the nickname seems more than appropriate for someone who has been given a second chance at life. Fenelus Charles doesn’t like to rehash too many details of his past, but the senior has clearly seen more than most 18-year-olds. “When I came to Midwood, the street life was my life,” Fenelus said. “It was the main thing on my mind – doing what I shouldn’t be doing.”

Arriving in October 2006, Fenelus knew few Midwood students but made it his creed to make his presence known. “I made sure everyone knew my name,” he said. “But then I started to change.” Through individualized attention from teachers and administrators, Fenelus began to make his own transformation, causing the once-turbulent teen to take on the role of a natural-born leader. “The people here are just cool,” he stated. “Everyone gets along with everyone. We have problems, but what people don’t have problems in their life?”

Fenelus, along with other senior male peers, was influential in starting True Gentlemen of Distinction, a fraternity of sorts for the men of Midwood. The group meets during school hours to plan upcoming projects, lend help with studies, offer peer support and to discuss prevalent generational and situational issues. “We are trying to branch it off,” Fenelus said. “Some of the seniors are talking about coming back and helping out our little brothers.”

For now, Fenelus is looking ahead, with plans to attend Central Piedmont Community College in the fall and then transfer after two years in order to participate in East Carolina University’s dance program. Not bad for a guy who considers it a blessing just to be alive. “I’ve got plans for the future,” he said with conviction. “My name is Resurrection. I was dying inside, and now I have changed my ways.”

A different kind of normal
With an enrollment of 276, Midwood High School may be small but its mission is mighty. The differences seem to contribute most toward its greatness. Overcoming the stereotypical label of an alternative school, Midwood has become a haven for students who need personal attention and constant nudges from teachers who demand and expect success. “I got a little put out with everyone saying, ‘It is an alternative school, so you can expect x, y and z,’” said the school’s principal. “I kept saying, ‘No, it’s a regular school. Set high expectations and they will rise to the challenge.’”

Martin-Tanner’s efforts to make Midwood’s environment similar to a conventional school setting seem to have bolstered a sense of school spirit and deepened student appreciation of both the school and its teachers. Her labors to establish normalcy inspired the school’s first yearbook with additional support garnered through donations. “In the beginning they were not really excited,” admitted Martin-Tanner. “But when they saw the final product ... all the kids wanted to buy one.” Donations from area schools also gave students a night to remember at the April 27 prom held uptown at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design.

It’s hard to overlook the emotion that envelops Martin-Tanner as she mentions the 26 students slated to graduate. She displays genuine confidence that their achievements will continue far beyond Midwood’s walls. “They are my babies,” said Martin-Tanner with unabashed love. “This particular group … I don’t even know if I can put it into words. I hope that they will come back and share their success stories because I know that they will have them.”

William Jennings Bryan once said, “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.” Perhaps it was chance that brought some of these students to Midwood, all of them enduring chaos and struggles far beyond their years, while striving to reach the goal of graduation. Yet, through their resolute choices to persevere and with the encouragement of a fully committed Midwood staff, they have now trumped mere circumstance and left the odds beaten and bashed.

For Alexandria, Ja’Quella and a young man named Resurrection, achieving a promising future is now destined. “I want to make my mom proud,” said Alexandria in a voice far braver than most. It’s not very chancy to say that she probably already has.