CoMo Rising Stars: Douglass senior Jaymond Shabaka to graduate with real-world experience
For the past two years, Douglass High School senior Jaymond Shabaka has flourished.
As part of Veterans United Home Loans' Flourish Initiative, Jaymond has kept up with school assignments while working in maintenance at Veterans United, watering the mortgage company's many plants, moving and assembling chairs and other furniture, and doing whatever else needs to be done.
"Jay made it easy for us," said his supervisor, Joe Herzog, using his nickname.
He's only been late for work on a few occasions, Herzog said.
"He's never said 'no' to a job," Herzog said, adding that Jaymond has tackled one of the most difficult tasks in putting up or taking down plexiglass.
"I'm impressed with him as an individal," Herzog said.
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Jaymond, 18, previously went to Battle High School, but found out about Flourish when he came to Douglass, where a teacher relentlessly pushed him to participate, he said.
"It was a culture shock," Jaymond said of the program at Veterans United. "It's like a community. It's really different than my previous experience in the workforce."
He hated a stint working in fast food, he said.
He also participated in a summer professional development program for Flourish interns. It included many speakers, instruction on building resumes, lessons on time management and prioritization, and even dinner and lunch etiquette.
"It really changed my mindset," Jaymond said. "I think it's really rubbed off on me."
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His grandmother raised him, he said. His parents haven't been part of his life, he said.
"I've been living with my grandmother since I was about a year old," Jaymond said. "I think in all honesty, she's made me the person I am today."
He's looking forward to getting his diploma on May 20.
"I'm very excited," he said.
His next step is to work as an apprentice electrician through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Jefferson City, he said.
"It's easy money and it's always going to be in demand," Jaymond said.
CoMo Rising Stars is a Tribune series profiling principal-nominated high school seniors from around Columbia ahead of their graduation. The series spotlights students with a special talent, accomplishment or passion for helping others.
Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Douglass senior to graduate with two years work experience behind him
