Alexandria (Jade) Jenkins’ path to college has come with challenges, but with the support of the USC Upstate Spartan community, she’s been able to stay the course and become more confident, adaptive, and independent.
After graduating from high school in the small town of Clover, SC, Jenkins started looking for a school in a larger area that was strong in health education.
“I mainly chose USC Upstate because when I came and did a tour, out of all the schools I did, the staff was the kindest to me,” says Jenkins. “They welcomed me immediately. It made me feel that if I did come here, I would get the proper experience that a college student would want.”
She applied for multiple scholarships to help cover tuition. To her amazement, she was awarded a $100,000 scholarship from the Kirsh Family Foundation.
“Just getting that news changed my life. I probably would not have been able to come to college, or I probably would have had to use a lot of loans … so getting that scholarship made my dream of being here come true.”
Multiple hospitalizations and a medical withdrawal that paused her learning for a semester have been obstacles for Jenkins, but she’s proud that she’s managed to stay on track to graduate on time. “When I first got here, independence was very hard, it was a big change. This university has made me gain a lot of confidence and independence as well,” she says.
Jenkins is now a junior majoring in community health. Her mother’s death while she was in high school led her to go into the medical field. Her own struggles with mental health and the support she’s received from counseling services have deepened her interest in mental health care. “My biggest goal is to—whatever field I decide to go in—is to make sure that the patients, the clients, get the proper help they need.”
She found a community she can engage with at Upstate. She’s involved with the Health Professionals Club and regularly attends events hosted by the Campus Activities Board. The annual Family Fest in the fall is one of her favorite events. She says the students, faculty, and staff she’s gotten to know at Upstate have come to feel like family.
She feels her college experience has turned her into a more resilient person.
“Whatever I put my mind to, I know I can be successful in the future if I’ve done this.”