Jaylen Roberts

Leading an Extraordinary Life

story by JENNIFER BROWN-CARPENTER         photos by SUSAN DELOACH

Starting before he was even born, Jaylen was impressed with the importance of education. His mom, Angela Roberts, was in college, studying physics while pregnant with him, and became an eighth-grade science teacher at Whale Branch Middle School while Jaylen was young. He would go to work with her, crossing the campus to attend Whale Branch Elementary School. He grew up “in the cluster,” Angela says, acknowledging her son’s growth from James J. Davis Elementary to Whale Branch Elementary to the middle school and Early College High School. The schools feel like home to Jaylen, as he has spent so much of his time there, not only in his classes but also visiting his mom in hers.

Jaylen’s parents, Travis and Angela, are ordinary people. After growing up in the Big Estate and Jonesville communities, they met while working at Subway. They have three children, Jaylen, Trystin, who is 14, and Chloe, a 5-year-old. Travis and Angela have raised their children to view education as their number one priority. Angela was able to demonstrate this well by the hard work she has always put into her classroom. It has not always been easy, but it has always been worth it, now more than ever.

Not only has Jaylen’s parents pushed the importance of academics, but his other teachers at Whale Branch have, as well as his coaches. Jaylen is an avid athlete and loves playing football, baseball, and competing in track and field. With everyone in his life pushing him and encouraging him, it is no wonder that Jaylen maintained above a 3.5 GPA during his high school years at Whale Branch Early College High. He also took advantage of the Early College program at the high school and started taking college classes as a freshman in high school. Travis, Jaylen’s dad, describes him as a self-motivator. “We never had to force him to do his homework or push him to study harder. He’s always been a hard worker and pushed himself to get things done.”

Jaylen graduated from the Technical College of the Lowcountry on Friday, May 7th, with two Associates degrees and three certificates, and again from Whale Branch Early College High School on Wednesday, June 16th, in the top ten of his class and with his high diploma. That is impressive enough for someone his age, but that is just the beginning of the story.

In December, Jaylen and his family were at one of Jaylen’s basketball games. It was senior night, and it was announced that Jaylen was planning to attend North Carolina A & T and major in Mechanical Engineering. A “messenger angel” as Angela called him, pulled Travis aside and mentioned the USDA program and told him to look into it.

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program provides full tuition and related expenses to the student for the remainder of their college degree program leading to graduation and training opportunities during the summer. Upon graduation, a non-competitive full-time position will be provided to the student for as many years as the student spent in college. The goal of the scholarship is to increase the number of minorities studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and other related disciplines.

Jaylen and his mom, Angela, began to research it and almost immediately decided to apply for the scholarship. Coincidentally, Jaylen contracted Covid-19 at nearly the same time, and the whole family had to quarantine in their home. They had found out about the scholarship on December 22nd and had to submit the application and essay by January 31st. Jaylen got to work, writing his essay, filling out the application, and reaching out to community members for recommendation letters while his mom made sure they got his transcripts. “It was difficult because it was during Christmas break, so lots of people were not in the office, but we made it work and submitted it on time.” Covid was a blessing in disguise, allowing them the time to get things done while they were stuck in their home.

Being a self-motivated, go-getter paid off big time when Jaylen was awarded the USDA 1890 scholarship. He was already committed to Savannah State to play football, so he de-committed and will now attend South Carolina State University in the fall. While attending the school, Jaylen will have summer internships in Wisconsin, which is sponsoring his scholarship. He will be studying Civil Engineering. He is thankful for the opportunity to learn more about the design and construction of environmental structures.

Angela and Travis are incredibly proud of Jaylen, and they are all thankful to God that He has continued to provide and bless their son in this way. They are also grateful to the community: friends, teachers, fellow church members, and of course, family for their involvement in Jaylen’s growth.

So, Jaylen is just a normal kid, in most senses of the word. He loves sports. He loves to fish. He loves his family. He’s worked incredibly hard to get to where he is now. He’s made sacrifices, pushed himself, and continued to focus on what’s ahead of him. That’s incredibly encouraging, especially to those attending the Whale Branch schools. “It’s amazing that the entire Whale Branch cluster of students can see his story and know that it is possible for any of them,” Angela says. “You don’t have to transfer schools to have this be your story. He’s been here the whole time.”