MANSFIELD — Qweoncy Peoples stood in the gymnasium of Mansfield Senior High School on Wednesday and signed a pledge to be her best self, to be dedicated in the pursuit of her goals and to never give up.
She was one of 49 seniors at Mansfield Senior High to participate in Tyger Signing Day, a celebration of soon-to-be graduates and their plans for after high school.
While most of the participants will go on to college, some were lauded for their plans to enter the workforce, military or trade school.
“We’re trying to celebrate those students that are deciding to take their future into their own hands by making a plan before they graduate,” said Effie James, advisor of Senior High’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) initiative.
“That’s what Tyger Signing Day is all about.”
James and the school’s two GEAR UP advisors organized the event, which was open to parents and community members. The entire high school student body sat in the bleachers, cheering on their classmates.
Local DJ Ron Moton kept the energy high as the seniors entered the gym, many sporting t-shirts with their future university’s logo.
“Last year we had 18 kids and our goal was to double that number for this year,” James said. “Our advisors have done a great job getting the kids excited about it.”
Mandy Logan sat in the audience, cheering on her daughter Ellie Snyder and her classmates. Logan is a 9th and 12th grade English teacher at Mansfield Senior High.
“I’ve watched them over the last four years, so seeing that they’re realizing their potential, they’re committing to their own success, it’s exciting to watch,” she said.
Like James, Logan said she believes having a plan is something worth celebrating.
“I think a lot of times when students don’t start out with a plan, it’s just easy to get lost,” she said.
“If they have a plan that they’re committed to, even if they change their mind down the road, at least they’re moving in a direction that’s positive and they’re getting connected with positive people and they can find what their true passion is.”
Snyder will study communication sciences and disorders at Baldwin Wallace University. Peoples will attend the Ohio State University. She plans to major in either criminal justice or nursing.
Peoples and other students said GEAR UP advisors Ai’Layshia Williams and Malon Samuel have helped them navigate the process of figuring out what they want to do next.
“They helped me fill out my FAFSA when I didn’t know what to do. We talked a little bit about different colleges and different opportunities,” Peoples said.
“They really help you. If you’re undecided on what you want to do after high school, they go through everything that you could possibly do,” she said.
The GEAR UP program is in its second year at Mansfield Senior High. Logan said she believes more students took advantage of it this school year.
“Almost all of my seniors were involved with GEAR UP in some way or another,” she said.
“They went on the field trips, they went on the college visits. (The advisors) actually came into my classroom a lot and helped with college application essays,” she said. “We did a whole unit on that, so they worked with me in a partnership, which was really cool.”
Damarion Jones was honored twice during Tyger Signing Day. He’ll start a summer internship with Kokosing after graduation and attend Bowling Green State University in the fall. He plans to study computer science.
Jones said the GEAR UP team encouraged him to branch out.
“They’ve helped me just connect with new people and new opportunities,” he said. “I think the most important thing (they’ve taught me) would be to kind of reach out and explore all opportunities, to not get stagnant.”
Daniel Lloyd will attend the University of Akron to study graphic design. He’s the first person in his family to go to college.
“(The advisors) helped me understand a lot of stuff, like how college actually works,” he said.
Lloyd said the ceremony and support from GEAR UP advisors boosted his confidence.
“I felt like that girl, I really did,” he said. “It’s a different feeling, like you made it. And once you feel that, the sky’s the limit.”
“Follow your dreams, don’t ever go up,” he said as a word of advice to fellow students. “I know times are hard but you will push through.”
