Choosing among 37 college acceptances might overwhelm some, but not Tyla Johnson.
She figured out what was more important – not having student loans – and narrowed down her options. Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black university in Charlotte, N.C., offered her the biggest scholarships and will enable her to pursue her dream of being a forensic investigator.
“I’m not nervous about college,” Tyla said. “I feel like I’m prepared academically. It’s going to be different with a lot of people I’ve never met, but I know I’ll be fine.”
Tyla can trace her path to college back to Meeting Street Academy – Charleston, where she enrolled as a first grader. Her Mom, Tyra, had heard her friends buzzing with excitement about the Academy, which just had opened the year prior.
“We wanted something different for our kids,” Tyra said. “They are just as deserving as anyone else of a great education.”
The Academy was created to give more children the opportunity to receive an exceptional education, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Although it’s a private school, it offers generous tuition assistance to families with demonstrated financial need.
The school requires parents to be strong partners in their child’s education, and that collaborative approach aligned perfectly with Tyra’s vision for what a school should be.
The Academy exceeded Tyra’s expectations, and near the end of third grade, the Johnson family faced another, unexpected choice.
An anonymous donor had created a scholarship at Porter-Gaud School, one of Charleston’s most expensive and elite private schools, for a deserving fourth grader that would continue through the student’s senior year of high school. Tyla was selected to receive that scholarship.
“I still don’t know who the person is, so I say it’s God,” Tyra said. “That opportunity wouldn’t have come our way if it weren’t for Meeting Street Academy.”
Tyla moved to Porter-Gaud, and she graduated from high school on May 25. More than 60 friends and family came to show their support.
“I posted on Facebook, ‘Thanks Porter-Gaud for hosting our family reunion!’” Tyra said as she laughed.
Now, Tyla’s younger sister is enrolled in Meeting Street Academy, and Tyra continues to be as involved as ever.
“It’s a family-oriented school,” she said. “We’ve had such a great experience.”
The 37 schools Tyla was accepted to include:
- Alabama A&M
- Alabama State University
- Allen University
- Benedict College
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Clark Atlanta University
- College of Charleston
- Columbia College
- East Carolina State University
- Fayetteville State University
- Fisk University
- Florida Memorial University
- Francis Marion University
- Guilford College
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Louisiana State University
- Miles College
- Missouri State University
- North Carolina A&T
- North Carolina Central University
- North Greenville University
- Salem College
- Shaw University
- South Carolina State University
- Southern Wesleyan University
- Spartanburg Methodist College
- Stillman College
- Talladega College
- Tennessee State University
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- University of South Carolina – Aiken
- University of South Carolina – Upstate
- Virginia State University
- Vorhees University
- Western Carolina University
- Wingate University
- Winthrop University