Deven Rucker

Deven Rucker

“At the Yo! Academy, we were like a family. When the school closed last year, it was like having to leave your sisters and brothers. We all cried that night. It was really painful – very emotional. Students were crying. Parents were crying. But the decision had been made. We had to register at another school.

“Most of us went to Overton High because it was a performing arts school just as Yo! Academy was.  But when we first got to Overton, we didn’t feel welcome at all.

“I was in a dance class, and we were scheduled to perform in a competition. I practiced with the other students, and I learned the routine. But when it was time for the performance, I didn’t go because my grandmother told me we didn’t have money to buy my jazz shoes.

“When I came to school the next day, our teacher said I was the reason we lost – because I didn’t show up to perform. A lot of my old friends started transferring out of Overton. I took it for as long as I could, but I felt we were mistreated by the students there. My best friend was leaving that day. So I went home and told my grandmother that I just couldn’t stay. I wanted to leave.

“So after two or three weeks, I went back to Mitchell where I had attended from the 7th-9th grades. It wasn’t so bad because I had old friends there. But near the end of the year, it got really scary. I was in the cafeteria when one student shot another student. I called my grandmother and told her, ‘Please come and get me. I’m scared.’

“And when that rape dance tape came out, it really wasn’t anything new to me. I knew how the dances were, so I never attended them. My grandmother just told me to just get through the year and finish. My senior year wasn’t what I had hoped. I wanted to graduate from Yo! Academy, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

“It’s over now, but I will never forget my sophomore and junior years at Yo! Memphis. We have tried to all keep in touch, and a group of us came back this year for the Presentation Ball. That was great because we got to spend some time together like we did years ago.

“I will begin college this fall at Lane College in Jackson. I’m excited about that. But I will never forget Yo! Academy.”

(Deven Rucker is the recipient of this year’s $1,000 Milam Scholarship for Achievement.)

Earl Carter

Earl Carter

“I was going into my junior year at Yo! Academy when we heard it was closing. I showed up at the school board with everyone else.

“Although I didn’t sign the list to speak publicly, many of my classmates did. But it was like their words were falling on deaf ears. I thought at first the board might change their minds, but they said the school would not reopen no matter what anyone said.

“I felt like we all went up there for nothing. The decision to close the school had already been made, and there was nothing we could do about it.

“Most of us registered at Overton for its performing arts curriculum. That way, we could stay together. But before the first month was out, a lot of Yo! students had transferred to other schools.

“The  Yo! Foundation scholarship ball in May was great because Dr. (Marie) Milam brought us all back together again. That was a great night. It almost seemed like our school had not closed at all. My life changed forever when I came to Yo! Memphis Academy. We were so hurt when it was closed.

“I still think it should be reopened, even if it’s too late for me. Many students came from bad home situations, so Yo! Academy was more than just a school to us. We cared about each other and about the things other students were experiencing. It was like having an extended family at school.

“We appreciate Dr. Milam for continuing to reach out to us through the Web site. Our time at Yo! Memphis Academy was so important. I am glad for the time I spent there. But it just makes me sad that students coming behind me may never have that same experience.”

(Earl Carter was awarded the 2008 Yo! Memphis Leadership Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.)