What it takes

By Nichole Livengood  

JUNE 30, 2011 11:28 a.m. (3)

Now that she’s going into her senior year in high school, the time to prove herself is coming to an end.

She’s just back from West Point’s Summer Academy in New York where she got up every day at 5:45 a.m. for physical training, then a day full of classes, military training, athletics, social events. Lights out arrived at 11 p.m.

She’s also attending the Air Force Academy and Naval Academy’s summer seminars. The she’s going to Palmetto Girl’s State and track camp with her Byrnes High School team later this summer.

Her father said her schedule is enough to stress any teenager, but his daughter is driven and takes it in stride.

“I am more determined now to get in,” she said. I met so many great friends and can’t wait to see them again.”

United States Military Academy at West Point in New York was founded in 1802 as the nation’s first college of engineering, but did not accept its first female cadets until 1976.

Women make up about 14 percent of the student population.

Jolly comes from a military family.  Her father is a Citadel graduate and two of her uncles are retired Army.

“I would like to serve my country to help protect the people who cannot protect themselves,” she said.  She plans to serve as a career officer, then maybe one day pursue a career in politics.

Here’s what she’s done to further her educational cause:

She’s in the top 5 percent of her class.

She received the South Carolina Governor’s Citizenship Award.

She’s the student body president, wing commander of Byrnes High School Air Force JROTC Program, and president of both the National Honor Society and Junior Civitan.  Jolly is also captain of the Varsity Cross Country and Distance Track teams at Byrnes.

She said her proudest accomplishment came last summer when she earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for building a raised bed garden at McCarthy Teszler School, which serves significantly disabled students in Spartanburg County.

She planned and built several 4-foot x 8-foot raised table top garden beds located beside the playground so that wheelchair bound kids could pull themselves up to the beds and plant and harvest vegetables and flowers.

“I loved working with them and seeing all of their faces when it was time to plant. Also knowing that the garden will be there forever for other children to enjoy,” she said.

Her older sister inspired the project.  Jessica is two years older and is multi-handicapped. She has cerebral palsy, severe mental retardation, and epilepsy, and needs round the clock care. Jolly likes taking care of her sister.

“My favorite thing to do with her is sit in the recliner and snuggle her and watch TV. She means more to me than anyone could ever imagine,” she said. “Jessica is my inspiration for wanting to serve my country and I could not imagine my life without her in it.”

Yvonne Harper Program Manager for Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce said the 2011 graduate of Junior Leadership Spartanburg made quite an impression on her peers.

“John Quincy Adams said if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more and become more, you are a leader. Averi is an inspiration to all those around her. Without even realizing it, she encourages those around her, including me, to follow our dreams.”

Jolly hopes to find if she has been accepted to the Academy this fall.

Comments

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Laura Henderson  - What it takes   |2011-07-01 12:52:27 Averi Jolly certainly is an inspiration and it seems that she will no doubtfully achieve what she aspires and more. Reply

A. Randolph Hough  - Owner   |2011-07-07 17:28:00 What a leader! We are going to hear a lot more good things about Averi. Reply

Nick B.   |2011-08-10 11:23:40 Go Averi, Can't wait to see you there on R-Day next year! Reply

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