Jayvon Wright: First-generation college student earns degree to honor his past and future

June 6, 2024

Jayvon Wright is beating the odds.

He’s the first in his family to graduate from college and he did it in just two years. Fifty-six percent of first-generation students still haven’t earned a degree after six years.

Jayvon said he earned the degree for his Mom and for the kids he hopes to have one day.

“My Mom had to give up on her college dream to take care of my brother and me, so I wanted to earn mine for her,” he said. “I want to keep furthering my education so I can help my future generations.”

Jayvon is one of six Scholarship recipients to graduate this spring. The others are: Kyra Freeman and Dalazia Smith of Claflin University; Montanna Lussier and Kylah Rainey of Clemson University; and Amani Robinson of the University of South Carolina.

Jayvon is a native of Charleston and graduated from Early College High School, so he completed most of his general education requirements before he ever stepped foot on the Clemson University campus.

He applied to 10 out-of-state colleges because he wanted the experience of living in a different state, but then he found the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, which offered up to $40,000 to help with tuition, fees, housing and food.

Clemson turned out to be the most inexpensive institution he could afford with the Scholarship, so he decided to enroll.

“Without the Scholarship, I would’ve had a lot of student loans,” he said. “It would’ve potentially hindered my next chapter with having to pay off this big amount of debt. The Scholarship is the majority of what helped put me through college.”

His time at Clemson hasn’t always been easy. He struggled with self-doubt and questioned whether he was capable enough to handle its rigorous academics. His GPA fell to a 2.7 and his Scholarship was in jeopardy.

The next semester, Jayvon made studying a priority. He spent more time on his lessons outside of class and made sure he understood the material. It worked, and he brought his GPA up to a 3.6

He’s graduated with a cumulative 3.43 GPA and plans to join the Marines as an officer. He eventually plans to pursue a doctorate and become a neuropsychologist, and he said the benefits and support of the military will help him with his goal.

“The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund to me means opportunity,” he said.

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