2011 Graduation: NCHS Seniors Reflect on Tough High School Experience, Look Toward Future

Both Julian Lane and Alexandria Thomas will graduate from Tuesday with GPAs above 4.0 and attend prestigious colleges.

Lane, 18, will attend Johns Hopkins University on a full scholarship to study neuroscience on a pre-med track. He hopes to be a neurosurgeon one day.

“I just wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to be like the average kid that just goes to school or ends up dropping out,” he said of his interest in neuroscience. “I’ve wanted to do it since middle school. Maybe it was seeing Gifted Hands [that solidified it].”

Gifted Hands is a 2009 TV movie that depicted the true story of Dr. Ben Carson, a black man who faced obstacles but now is the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins.

Lane said he doesn’t feel as though he grew up in the worst neighborhood, but he acknowledges that he, too, had some hardships he had to overcome to get to where he is today.

“My college essay was called ‘Pink, Yellow, White,' because that’s the order the eviction notices would come," he said, adding that when he completes his studies at Johns Hopkins, he will be the first in his family to receive a four-year degree.

He also said the environment he lived in generally didn’t push him to succeed.

“I saw a lot of examples around me when I was growing up that were like, ‘This is what you shouldn’t do,’” he said.

Lane also was accepted to Harvard University on a full scholarship and was awarded more than $730,000 in scholarship money.

Thomas, also 18, will begin at the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) in July before attending the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012. After serving her country, she one day hopes to be president of the United States.

Thomas said it always was her dream to go to Georgetown University, but that was before she participated in a tutoring and enrichment program that partners students who are struggling in a class with a midshipman at the Naval Academy who excels at the subject. For Thomas, that subject was chemistry.

“Midshipman Natalie Logan is a chemistry major … Not only did she help me on Saturdays, but we exchanged numbers and told me contact her whenever I needed help. Even if it was 3 in the morning,” Thomas said. “I’ve never experienced that before. There’s just something in the water [at the Naval Academy].”

Thomas is the youngest of eight children and has been raised by a single mother after her father died when she was 5 years old.

“It’s been hard at home. My older sister moved out when I was 10 and I’ve been taking care of my mother ever since,” she said, adding that her mother suffers from different health issues. “But my mom always told me, ‘Don’t you ever settle. Strive to be the best.’”

And her best enabled her to be awarded more than $1 million in scholarship money to attend several schools.

Racial Tensions at School

The Glen Burnie residents were in the same kindergarten class at and have been friendly throughout their years in school. In a way, that friendship has helped them when they were one of, if not the only, black students in their classes.

“I’m always the only black male in my classes,” Lane said. “It made me compete more … and now I’m in the top 10 of the class.”

While not necessarily a loner, Lane said it was difficult for him socially at North County.

“In this school, it’s hard to find anyone like me who is male and of the same descent,” he said.

It was similarly difficult for Thomas, who added that she was called racial slurs and often felt discriminated against by her classmates.

"Racism is a thriving thing in Anne Arundel County," she said. “[The teachers] want you to strive to be the best in class when you can’t really focus because of all the racial slurs being thrown at you.”

Principal Bill Heiser said he was unaware of any issues in the school dealing with racism, prejudice or discrimination.

“We don’t tolerate discrimination or ignorance,” he said when asked about comments made by Lane and Thomas. “It really upsets me to hear that and, unfortunately, it reflects a lot of ignorance of a few students.”

Heiser said that while there is not a specific program in place for students who feel they are experiencing racism at the hands of others in the school, issues can be dealt with through North County’s anti-bullying program.

For now, Thomas and Lane say their departure from North County is bittersweet.

“I’m definitely glad we’re out, but I feel sorry for the students who will [have similar experiences],” she said.

Lane echoed her sentiment.

“I’m just ready to get away from it all,” he said.