Outstanding Buffalo Public School Student
City Honors graduate, Jasmine Smith, is a National Achievement Scholarship finalist. With a 3.8 average, she was offered scholarships to Columbia, Harvard, Yale and NYU. "She's simply brilliant," William Kresse, City Honors Principal said.
Both articulate and wise, Jasmine had a lot to say about her education thus far. "Before I went to City Honors, I went to school 71, and it just wasn't the same. It was a predominantly black school and in terms of the teachers and other students, it wasn't the most encouraging atmosphere.
"At City Honors, all of the kids think school is important, and being well educated is important. We're encouraged, rather than being expected to fail. You rise to the level of what people expect."
When asked if she thought there were inequities in the educational system, she said, "There are schools with problems. It changes the student expectations." And she thinks she knows what part of the success of City Honors students can be attributed to. "One of the biggest things is that it's a 5 through 12 school. There is a diverse student body with a community safety net. Teachers get to know you and take the time to support you.
"Instead of having just four years to make a difference—after being thrown into a whole new environment—you have eight years. You're not a number. When students are given the right environment and encouragement, they thrive and become productive."
Principal Kresse had said that Jasmine was a math and science wiz, but when it was pointed out that she has a magnificent speaking presence, Jasmine reflected on memories of her seventh-grade Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Floetta Washington. "She entered us in the Richmond Speaking Contest, and everyone in her English class has to prepare a speech. I spoke in front of the school, and I made it to the semi-finals."
Jasmine will go to the University of Buffalo on a full scholarship this fall, and her decision to stay in town has some baffled. "It's complicated," Jasmine said. "My mother is a single mother, and I help take care of my five brothers. I can't leave them."
Currently, the 18-year-old has her sights set on one typical teen endeavor. "I want to take driving lessons," she said, "but they cost a lot. I'm hoping to be able to do that soon."
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figmo
A very special young woman and a great story!
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Jeffshome
If I were in the driving school business she would have free lessons. How encouraging is her story!! I would wish her good luck in the future, but it does not seem that she will need it.
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Drew
I'm forwarding this to my driving-school friend!
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skybox
This should be the norm for all Buffalo Schools! She sounds like a remarkable student and person, I wish her all the best at UB. I wonder what would have happened if we did not have City Honors to segregate the best and brightest from the students that the BPS have given up on. I also wonder how she would have faired if she was a student in Williamsville or Clarence? Would she be as celebrated as she is today, or just part of the crowd?
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ECB
Jeff and Drew, God love ya'. I wish Jasmine could respond to you herself, but when I told her this story would be online she said, "I don't have a computer." We forget, don't we, about privilege?
As for all schools being like this, think of City Honors as the model, not the exclusionary best. Someone has to be the prototype. Look at Jasmine's own assessment of why this school worked. Do you think anyone involved in education doesn't want to grow in that direction?
Look back at the videos with Dr. Williams. I'd say that's a man trying to work these schools for all they're worth. How many Jasmines languish in the interim? I hate to think.
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UprightCitizen
Just to expand on ECB's comment on "privilege" directly above.
It is important for Buffalonians to realize that throughout our community are talented, extraordinary, intelligent, capable people who are handicapped by lack of resource.
I have seen this time and again in Buffalo.
However, it is the public who is handicapped because we struggle with persons in fulcrum positions who are there merely by virtue of nepotism, patronage and witless re-election. And those incumbents fight to protect their unearned offices and appointed positions rather than enabling those, especially youth, who could make a difference.
I am thrilled at Jasmine's dedication to her family and her community. I would hope that those five capable brothers regard their sister as a role model and return their dedication to her. One way would be to exert their own maturity and allow sister her chance to soar. And I hope the community can somehow respond to and capitilize upon her as well.
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Sundial
ColUmbia University with a "U" and Colombia the country with two "O"s.
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MRodgers
What an outstanding soul this young lady is. We need to recognize young, talented, and dedicated people like her. Maybe create an endowment for kids that provide the essentials like a computer so they can continue to excell! Anyone up for a challenge?
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mac20
Exceptional young woman, thanks for highlighting her. Buffalo schools are full of bright promising students, in every school , not just at City Honors. With the new leadership in the Buffalo schools, and the hard work of everyone who works in them, we can look for more of these students to shine.
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ECB
Skybox-
Here are some facts to help you understand:
The National Achievement competition is based on national PSAT scores. Therefore, Jasmine's accomplishment has nothing to do with her status as a student coming from an urban area. She is one of a only a few thousand in the nation who scored so highly on this assessment.
She would be one of the crowd in Williamsville and Clarence--only if--every student there had her SAT scores, was taking a full slate of college courses during their junior and senior year including college level physics, biology and calculus, as did Jasmine. She is a standout, plain and simple.
You can bet principals like Mr. Kresse didn't give up on kids in the city when he was an administrator at South Park and Kensington and helped to launch highly successful AP programs. In addition to the fact that City Honors gets a very good group of kids, they are a perfect model for racial and ecomonic integration. City Honors' framework for pushing talented students, if one takes the time to understand the details, is truly unique in the nation.
And no one will argue that we need more schools like this. Jasmine said it herself. It was the familiarity and high expectations that encouraged her. Every school needs to work toward that, as every child who is willing to work toward it deserves the best.
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