If one knows anything about Mississippi, particularly the Delta, one would know that the poverty rate is high, many families are dealing with chronic health issues, and the teenage pregnancy rate more than doubles the national average.
In addition to these issues, “Nearly 18% of students will leave high school without earning a high school diploma. The average ACT score is 16.3, nearly 25% lower than the national average” (sunflowerfreedom.org).
That’s a statistic for Sunflower County.
One young man in Sunflower County is already on the path to defying those odds.
Cordelio Scott, an eighth grader at Ruleville Middle School, recently scored a 22 on his ACT.
He is the secretary of the Junior National Beta Club and a fellow of the Sunflower County Freedom Project located in Sunflower.
He also plays basketball for the Ruleville Middle School Bulldogs.
“My son is a well-behaved kid in and out of school,” said Cordelio’s mother Keiyshera Brinkley. During his three years at RMS, Cordelio has remained at the top of his class and on the Superintendent’s List from 6th-8th grade.
In early December, the eighth graders took their ACT test for the first time and got their scores back in January. He scored the highest in his eighth-grade class with a score of 22 and was awarded $200 from RMS Principal Earnest Nelson.
Cordelio exemplifies intelligence, diligence, respect and an amazing work ethic already.
“I know that if I stay persistent with my work and keep up with my academics, I will have a bright future,” he said humbly.
He said that he knows that he can create a lot of opportunities for himself and maybe even for his family.
“Your smarts can get you a long way in life. I’ve been dedicated to my work since my Head Start days, and I just kept the same effort ever since because it can also be rewarding at times,” he shared with a smile.
One cannot help but to love a young man of his caliber. And his mother could not be more grateful to say that Cordelio is her child.
“I feel blessed with the path he is taking in life. His drive, passion and discipline in school makes me proud. Most importantly I am thankful for the young man he is aspiring to become,” Keiyshera said with joyful tears in her eyes.
She understands that it is very easy to get distracted from schoolwork with social media, TikTok, girls and the average things teens go through.
She said that she encourages her son by showing up because she knows that her attentiveness and support to his performance in school/ academics lets him know that she cares.
That alone could speak volumes with any child.
“I always encourage him to remain humble and be a role model to his friends, peers and importantly his younger brothers; they are always watching and one day they will aspire to be just like Cordelio,” she gleamed hopefully.
Cordelio is an example of what we would like to see in all young men; however, it is understood that that may not ever be the case.
With his mother and the full, positive support of his community, he will indeed be a successful adult and citizen who makes his family, community and the world proud.
