Some people go to college to get away from their parents or their hometown. Not Jamie Whitehead. In fact, Whitehead was glad when his mother decided to go back to college to pursue her master’s degree after he graduated from Benjamin Russell High School.
“It’s not typical for some, but it worked out well,” Whitehead said. ““It’s so special because I’m receiving a degree in software engineering, but I got into computers because of my mother, helping her troubleshoot problems and learning from her in our home. She taught me by example.”
kAms@??2 y24<D@?[ (9:E69625’D >@E96C[ FD65 E@ C6A2:C 4@>AFE6CD @? E96:C 5:?:?8 E23=6 :? E96:C p=6I2?56C r:EJ 9@>6] (9:E69625 7@F?5 2 A2DD:@? 7@C C6A2:C:?8 4@>AFE6CD ;FDE =:<6 y24<D@? 5:5 — 3J H2E49:?8 D@>6@?6 6=D6 5@ :E]k^Am
kAm“|J 72E96C H2D 2? 6=64EC:4:2? 2?5 x 7@==@H65 9:> 6G6CJH96C6] x H2D H:C:?8 9@FD6D 3J E96 E:>6 x H2D 7:G6 J62CD @=5[” D2:5 y24<D@?[ H9@D6 A2DD:@? 6G@=G65 E@ H:C:?8 4@>AFE6CD]k^Am
kAmy2>:6 (9:E69625 8C6H FA :?EC:8F65 H:E9 9:D >@E96C’D 23:=:EJ E@ E2<6 2 4@>AFE6C 2A2CE[ C6\H:C6 E96 92C5 5C:G6[ :ED >@E96C3@2C5[ 8C2A9:4D 42C5[ E96? AFE :E 324< E@86E96C] w6 42C67F==J H2E4965 96C C6A2:C 4=:6?ED’ 56G:46D :? E96 72>:=J <:E496? 2?5 23D@C365 H92E 96 D2H]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 ?66565 C6A=246>6?E 92C5 5C:G6D 2?5 E96J’5 3C:?8 E96> E@ >6[” D2:5 y24<D@?[ 2 `hh_ 4@>AFE6C 6?8:?66C:?8 2=F>?FD[ H9@ ?@E @?=J H@C<D 2D 2 !r E649?:4:2?[ 3FE 2=D@ 7F==\E:>6 2D 2 D@7EH2C6 56G6=@A6C 2E w62=E9 r2C6 $JDE6>D[ x?4][ 2?5 4@>AFE6C 4=2DD :?DECF4E@C 2E pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ 2E |@?E8@>6CJ] “y2>:6 7@==@H65 >6 2C@F?5 =:<6 x 7@==@H65 >J 525 2?5 2D<65 BF6DE:@? 27E6C BF6DE:@?] (96? 96 3F:=E 9:D 7:CDE 4@>AFE6C[ H6 3F:=E :E E@86E96C]”k^Am
kAmy24<D@?[ 2 >@E96C @7 7@FC[ C646:G65 2 >2DE6C’D 568C66 :? 4@>AFE6C D4:6?46 2?5 D@7EH2C6 6?8:?66C:?8 E9C@F89 pF3FC? &?:G6CD:EJ’D @?=:?6 AC@8C2>[ H9:=6 (9:E69625 C646:G65 2? F?56C8C25F2E6 5:A=@>2 :? 4@>AFE6C D4:6?46 2?5 D@7EH2C6 6?8:?66C:?8] k^Am
kAm(9:E69625 2?5 y24<D@? 8C25F2E65 H:E9 E96:C 568C66D 62C=:6C :? s646>36C] k^Am
kAmw@H :E 2== 3682?k^Am
kAm(9J 4@>AFE6C D4:6?46n u@C (9:E69625[ H9@ 92D DA6?E E96 A2DE EH@ J62CD 2D 2 DEF56?E H@C<6C :? E96 w2C36CE r@==686 @7 qFD:?6DD’ x% 56A2CE>6?E[ E96 2?DH6C :D D:>A=6] w6 7@==@H65 :? 9:D >@E96C’D 7@@EDE6AD D:?46 49:=59@@5] p A2DD:@? 7@C G:56@ 82>6D 2?5 9@H E96J 2C6 4@565^AC@8C2>>65 96=A65[ E@@]k^Am
kAmqFE y24<D@?’D ;@FC?6J E@ 4@>AFE6CD 5:5?’E 368:? F?E:= 96C ;F?:@C J62C @7 9:89 D49@@=] rCF:D:?8 E9C@F89 q6?;2>:? #FDD6== w:89 $49@@=’D 25G2?465 5:A=@>2 4@==686 AC6A2C2E@CJ AC@8C2>[ D96 C62=:K65 D96 ?66565 2?@E96C 4=2DD 4C65:E] %96? 72E6 DE6AA65 :?]k^Am
kAm“~FE @7 E96 3=F6[ >J 4@F?D6=@C D2:5[ ‘(6’C6 DE2CE:?8 2 4@>AFE6C 4=2DD]’ (6 FD65 E9@D6 @=5 #25:@ $924< %#$\g_D E@ =62C? 32D:4 AC@8C2>>:?8 2?5 x’G6 366? 72D4:?2E65 6G6C D:?46[” y24<D@? D2:5] “%9@F89 x DA6?E 2 =@E @7 E:>6 H@C<:?8 H:E9 >J 72E96C[ x <?6H x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 36 2? 6=64EC:4:2?] (96? x 8@E :?E@ E9:D 4@>AFE6C 4=2DD[ :E :?EC:8F65 >6] x’G6 8@E E@ >2<6 2 DA64:2= D9@FE\@FE E@ @FC 9:89 D49@@= 496>:DECJ E62496C[ p]y] !C:46[ H9@ ?@E @?=J 28C665 E@ E6249 E92E 4@>AFE6C 4=2DD 3FE 2=D@ :?EC@5F465 DEF56?ED E@ A@E6?E:2= 42C66CD] x 3682? C6D62C49:?8 2?5 E96 >@C6 x C6D62C4965[ E96 >@C6 x H2D :?E6C6DE65 :? 2 42C66C :? 4@>AFE6CD]”k^Am
kAmy24<D@? 2EE6?565 pF3FC? t?8:?66C:?8’D 2??F2= t\s2J 367@C6 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:@? :? `hgd 2?5 =62C?65 23@FE E96 4@==686’D ?6H 4@>AFE6C D4:6?46 2?5 D@7EH2C6 6?8:?66C:?8 56A2CE>6?E] “x H2D 9@@<65[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmy24<D@? D2:5 25G2?4:?8 96C 65F42E:@? E9C@F89 pF3FC?’D 8C25F2E6 AC@8C2>D ?@E @?=J >6E 2 =@?8\E6C> 8@2=[ 3FE :E H2D 2=D@ 36?67:4:2= 7@C 96C 42C66C AFCDF:ED]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D?’E 62DJ[” D96 D2:5] “%649?@=@8J 492?86D D@ 72DE] x H2D D42C65 H96? x 4@>>:EE65 E@ C6EFC? E@ D49@@= EH@ J62CD 28@] x H@?56C65[ ‘(@F=5 x 36 23=6 E@ <66A FA 3642FD6 :E H2D 5C2DE:42==J 5:776C6?E E92? H96? x H2D 96C6 E96 7:CDE E:>6nk^Am
kAm“x E9:?< 6G6CJ3@5J 9:ED 2 H2== @? @442D:@?[” y24<D@? D2:5] “x 5:5 :E 2D 2? F?56C8C25 DEF56?E 2?5 282:? E9:D A2DE DAC:?8] x H2D E6249:?8 2E p&| 2?5 H@C<:?8 7F==\E:>6] %96 4=2DD6D x E@@< C6BF:C65 2 =@E @7 H@C<] (96? J@F’C6 2 5:DE2?46 DEF56?E[ J@F 5@?’E 86E E96 4=2DDC@@> E:>6 E@ 36 E2F89E E96 4@?46AED] *@F 925 E@ H2:E] pE ?:89E[ @?\42>AFD DEF56?ED 2C6 5@:?8 E96 9@>6H@C< H9:=6 x’> H2E49:?8 =64EFC6D 2?5 E96? 5@:?8 9@>6H@C<[ H@C<:?8 c_ 9@FCD A6C H66< 2?5 36:?8 @? 42== ac^f] x H2D H@?56C:?8 :7 x 4@F=5 7:?:D9[ 3FE >J >@>[ <:5D[ 9FD32?5 — 2?5 E96 {@C5 23@G6 D2:5[ ‘*@F 42? 5@ E9:D]’”k^Am
kAm(9:E69625 — 2 492>A:@? HC6DE=6C :? 9:89 D49@@= — 6?5FC65 D:>:=2C DECF88=6D] p7E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> q6?;2>:? #FDD6== 2?5 62C?:?8 2? 2DD@4:2E6D 568C66 2E r6?EC2= p=232>2 r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ[ 96 EC2?D76CC65 E@ pF3FC? :? a_`h] %96? r~'xs\`h 92AA6?65]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D 92C5 7@C >6 E@ 86E E9C@F89 4=2DD6D 3642FD6 x H2D 32D:42==J D:EE:?8 2C@F?5 E96 9@FD6 E96 H9@=6 E:>6 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 H2D @?=:?6[” 96 D2:5] “x F?56CDE2?5 E92E :E H2D C@F89 7@C 6G6CJ3@5J] qFE H96? J@F’C6 D:EE:?8 :? 2 492:C 7@C `e 9@FCD 2 52J 2?5 42?’E 8@ @FE 2?5 5@ E9:?8D @C 8@ E@ 42>AFD[ :E H2D G6CJ E@F89 >6?E2==J] *@F’C6 D66:?8 E96 D2>6 H2==D 2== E96 E:>6]”k^Am
kAm$92C:?8 4=2DD6Dk^Am
kAm~?46 @?\42>AFD 4=2DD6D C6DF>65[ (9:E69625 7@F?5 9:>D6=7 H:E9 2? F?6IA64E65 82>6 56D:8? 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E 4=2DD>2E6 — 9:D >@E96C — H9@ 3682? 8C25F2E6 D49@@= :? a_a_] k^Am
kAmr@==686 DEF56?ED D92C:?8 4=2DD6D H:E9 E96:C >@E96CD >:89E 36 H6:C5 E@ D@>6[ 3FE ?@E (9:E69625]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D 96=A7F= 3642FD6 @7 96C 6IA6C:6?46 :? E96 4@>AFE6C 7:6=5[” 96 D2:5] “x7 x H2D DEF4< H:E9 D@>6E9:?8[ x 4@F=5 A:88J324< @77 96C <?@H=6586 E@ 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 H92E x H2D 5@:?8 HC@?8] $96 H2D E96C6 E@ 2?DH6C 2?JE9:?8 2?5 D9@H65 >6 H2JD E@ 5@ E9:?8D >@C6 677:4:6?E=J] $96 D2:5[ ‘(96? J@F 86E :? E96 C62= H@C=5[ E9:D :D 9@H E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ H2?E J@F E@ 5@ :E]’k^Am
kAm“(6 H6C6 2=D@ 2==@H65 E@ H@C< E@86E96C @? 8C@FA AC@;64ED] (:E9 8C@FA AC@;64ED[ H96? J@F ?665 E@ 86E :? 4@?E24E H:E9 D@>6@?6 6=D6[ J@F >:89E ?@E 962C 7C@> E96> 7@C 52JD] qFE x <?@H H96C6 >J >@> =:G6D]”k^Am
kAm%96 5F@ H@C<65 @? 2 G:56@ 82>6 56D:8? AC@;64E 2?5 4C62E65 2 82>6 42==65 $EC2?565 :? rJ36CDA246] k^Am
kAm%96 AC@;64E 492==6?865 E96> E@ E9:?< @FED:56 E96 3@I 2?5 E@ 4@56 2C@F?5 46CE2:? :DDF6D E92E @?6 4@F=5 7246 :? E96 :?5FDECJ :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmy24<D@? D2:5 D92C:?8 2 4=2DD :? E96:C pF3FC? ;@FC?6J H2D DA64:2=[ 3FE 2=D@ “?@C>2=]”k^Am
kAm“w6 7@==@H65 >6 2C@F?5 7:I:?8 4@>AFE6CD 7@C >@DE @7 9:D =:76[” D96 D2:5] “(96? H6 H6C6 :? 4=2DD[ H6 H6C6 ?@E >@E96C 2?5 D@? \\ H6 H6C6 4=2DD>2E6D] (6 E2=<65 D9@A 2D :7 H6 H6C6 4=2DD>2E6D] (6 925 2 E62> AC@;64E – G:56@ 82>6 56G6=@A>6?E AC@46DD – H9:49 H2D 4@@= 3642FD6 96 :?4@CA@C2E65 D@>6 @7 9:D :562D 2?5 x :?4@CA@C2E65 D@>6 @7 >:?6]”k^Am
kAm(92E’D ?6IEk^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 (9:E69625 92D ?@ :>>65:2E6 A=2?D E@ C6EFC? E@ 4@==686 2?5 AFCDF6 2 >2DE6C’D 568C66[ =:<6 9:D >@E96C[ y24<D@? :D DFC6 @?6 52J 96 H:== C6EFC?]k^Am
kAm“w6’== 4@>6 2C@F?5 E@ :E[” y24<D@? D2:5] “%649?@=@8J :D 2=H2JD 492?8:?8[ 2?5 J@F 92G6 E@ <66A =62C?:?8]”k^Am
kAm(9:E69625[ H9@ :D 92AAJ E@ 36 7:?:D965 H:E9 4=2DD6D[ 2446AE65 2 A@D:E:@? 2D 2 D@7EH2C6 56G6=@A6C 2E $@FE962DE u@C6DE !C@5F4ED :? |@?E8@>6CJ]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D 7C66 E:>6[ 96 4@?E:?F6D E@ H@C< @? 9:D D6=7\3F:=E 4@>AFE6C] (96? 2D<65 :7 96 H@F=5 6G6C 7:?:D9 E96 4@>AFE6C[ (9:E69625 =2F8965 2?5 D2:5 “?@[ :E H:== ?6G6C 36 7:?:D965]”k^Am
