The last B that Lauren Graham ever made was in fourth grade.
In a few days, she will walk across the stage — her last day as a Columbus High School Falcon. She will leave not only with a high school diploma but with an associate’s degree from East Mississippi Community College.
Graham, the daughter of Benjamin and Adrienne Graham, graduated high school with a 4.6 grade point average and graduated community college last week with a perfect 4.0.
“My 10th grade year, it was the COVID-19 year,” Graham said. “That summer I started taking classes (at EMCC) because my mom was a teacher, so she knew about the dual enrollment program. She told me to start early. … When I went to see my counselor at the high school, she was like, ‘Your schedule for (senior) year… well, you’ve taken everything.’ I could’ve graduated early, but I wanted to keep taking dual enrollment classes.”
She is heading to Xavier University of Louisiana where she will begin pre-med classes with the hopes of becoming a forensic pathologist.
She said her best friend is headed to XULA with her, and they are trying to become roommates. Though she has two years of basic science classes under her belt, she may end up having to do three years because some classes may not transfer.
While in college she aims to join more social clubs, which isn’t much different from high school where she founded her own club called the Youth Activism Club.
Graham’s goals are set for her academic career, but she is also setting goals outside of academics.
“My goals are to keep pushing even when it gets hard and don’t give up,” Graham said. “Even though that’s oversaid, it really helps to not get stuck in your head. If you put yourself down, it’s really hard to get up.”
Columbus High School’s dual enrollment coordinator Laurie Davis said she has no doubt that Graham has the gumption to succeed.
“Lauren is so smart and motivated,” Davis said. “… She does have a lot of grit, and she will persevere when things do get hard, especially for what she wants to do. Things will get hard, but I have no doubt that she will go very far, and we will be reading about her in magazines.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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