THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230024
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: LIFE IN THE PASSING LANE
The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star has been following the paths
of four students in South Hampton Roads during their senior year in
high school. This is the last installment detailing their graduation
and hopes for the future.
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
IT WAS a mixture of joy, anxiety and relief. It was Graduation Day at Suffolk's Nansemond River High last Friday, and Robbie Scott was all teeth because it was all over.
No more worrying about SAT scores, financial aid and other Real World planning that takes much of the fun out of senior year. No more heaps of college applications for him and Mom to tackle.
Everything ended to his liking. Robbie's 3.7 grade-point average placed him 12th in the class of about 230 students. Four words are enough to tease out an infectious grin. Four-year academic scholarship.
Next month, Robbie, 18, will head to Norfolk State University to begin his course work in a program for students passionate about math and science. His heart was set on Hampton University, where he once participated in a summer enrichment project. But the free ride at NSU was too good to refuse, the future chemist said.
``I'm just ready to go! I'm ready to start something else,'' he said.
Robbie's is the intelligent, confident face that defies the grim statistics on today's generation of young black men. His parents and extended family are close-knit and supportive. He's not hopeless, bitter or misguided.
His friends say he's the poster guy for coolness, even if he is on the skinny side. His date got sick just days before the prom and eventually backed out. He met up with some buddies and had a good time anyway that night. And, he pointed out, he didn't have to beg anyone for a dance.
In his yearbook, a teacher described Robbie as a ``role model'' and ``an excellent student.'' He was one of 15 seniors the faculty recognized for achievements inside and outside the classroom. But he doesn't sit around thinking about how much he has always impressed grownups because he studied hard and stayed out of trouble. To him, there's only one way to go: all out.
He, too, dreams of making his mark in the world and raising a family someday. But for now, he's still bubbling about college.
``You know, I'm looking forward to getting to know new people and stuff like that. Maybe I'll join a fraternity, not the first year, but maybe later. It'll be a big change, just basically living on your own,'' he said.
In the past several months leading up to the big day, Robbie pondered what life would be like away from his Berkshire Meadows home and the friends who won't follow him to NSU.
``I just thought about stuff like, well, my place won't be there at the dinner table next year. Stuff like that,'' he said. Then again, he added, home is only about 30 minutes away - if he ever needs a hug, a home-cooked meal . .
``I'm happy and then I'm sad. It's a mixed emotion,'' said Robbie's mother, Judy. ``I know he's leaving home and I won't get to see him every day or talk to him every day. But I'm happy that he's going to college and I hope he'll enjoy it. . . .
``I really hope that what his father and I have taught him about making good decisions and setting priorities will stick with him.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
by CNB