When Jaime Meeker, 19, began the I Promise program in the third grade, he had his eyes on the prize – one day attending college and earning a degree. The graduate of Akron’s Firestone High School who is now in his second semester at Kent State University draws on his ability to persevere and work toward his goals, all skills and abilities that Meeker learned from his family and developed via the I Promise program.
Meeker grew up in a single parent household where he and his sister learned at an early age from their mother to not be afraid of doing things that inspire them.
The Lebron James Family Foundation’s I Promise program supports more than 1,500 Akron students in grades three through 10 through mentoring, college and career preparation and wrap-around family support. Kent State has hosted intensive summer programs in partnership with I Promise and Akron schools to show the I Promise students that it is possible for them to overcome obstacles to attend college and to make them stronger students.
As Meeker has discovered at Kent State, the journey to a degree will not be easy, but he knows there is a group of people rooting for him along the way. There is tutoring, mentoring and other resources readily available for him and other I Promise students, and he lives in Lake Hall in a living/learning environment with his I Promise peers. He said Kent State is helping him meet the challenges he has encountered.
Meeker says he is building a solid foundation at Kent State as he follows his dreams of working in the tech industry and somehow blending cybersecurity with his interest in music.
“I know there are people willing to help me and who care about my well-being,” Meeker said. “The I Promise program and Kent State (faculty and staff) care about students’ academic, physical, emotional and social health. Kent State does its best, not only academically, but there is a big team of people who are willing to help you, and they're supportive. You’re not alone.”