miami- Jalliyia Phillippy is a senior at Deerfield Beach High School and has reached new academic heights as she prepares to graduate and leave high school behind.
“I’m in calculus,” she said recently. “AP bill right now.”
While an Advanced Placement calculus course would leave most people perplexed and wondering what the what?
It is Jalliyia’s most demanding class, although all of her classes are AP.
“I’m in the IB program now, which is actually more difficult, but it’s a really good program,” she said. “But I like it because it has so many advanced courses”
Jalliyiah challenges herself in the International Baccalaureate Program as she prepares for a challenging career.
“I’m applying to Howard University, which is my best school (and) my number one,” she said. “I want to go to the medical program they have because I want to be a doctor.”
Jalliyiah’s plan now is to take care of others by becoming an anesthesiologist.
And her high school career is full of advanced classes, including pre-med courses, so she’ll already have college credit hours by the time she graduates.
“Physical chemistry, yes chemistry, was also very interesting to me,” said Jalliyiah. “I’m also taking AP chemistry this year, so I’m leaning more toward science than math, but I’m really good at reading (and) writing. I’m also really good at writing.”
Jallihiah has also found refuge in writing.
Her thesis is about the Great Barrier Reef and climate change.
Your IB teacher is overwhelmed by the ability of a young mind who is like a sponge absorbing knowledge.
“What I love about her is that what is written on the computer is ten times larger than what you see if you just sit quietly and work,” said Stephanie Beaty, an IB instructor for Jalliyiah, and agreed to a description of her as resembling a blooming flower. “Yes I think so.”
Beaty has seen a focus and perseverance that few possess.
The student took it upon herself to use the Khan Academy website to take repeated SAT practice exams.
She combined this with the College Board’s website to apply for scholarships, one of which was worth $40,000.
Jalliyiah won and helped ease the financial burden of paying for college.
“When she enters the college of her choice, I think she’ll be able to look back and say, ‘I made it,'” Beatty said. “I did it for myself and I fought for it. Super proud of them here”.
Jalliyiah walks the hallways of her high school in her senior year – smart beyond her years – and has her own advice – she offers to incoming young students.
“Choose something that interests you more, because if you care, do better,” she advises.
In addition to the College Board Scholarship, Jalliyiah has also received a Fulbright Future Scholarship, another reason she is one of CBS Miami students who shine.
Keith Jones
