Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of articles spotlighting the valedictorians from each of the schools in Dallas County.

 

Sisters Terra and Tyra Jackson accomplished many feats together in their time at Selma Early College High School, the most notable of which may have been last week when both were named the school’s valedictorians.

Both Terra and Tyra, who finished with GPAs of more than 4.3, plan to attend the University of Alabama in the fall, with Terra majoring in biology and Tyra in journalism.

Terra, who said she wants to become a role model in the community and start her own scholarship organization to help students attend college, hopes to use her degree to become either a dietician or a pharmacist.

“My mom doesn’t have medical insurance, and I feel like if I got a job that provides proper medical insurance, I can put her on the plan and come up with some type of program where I can assist people who don’t have medical insurance,” she said. “Basically, I want to do something in the medical field that will benefit others.”

Tyra said she hopes to combine her two loves of writing and sports and work as a newspaper reporter upon graduating.

“As far as UA goes, they’ve got a great football team and their basketball program is stepping it up too,” she said. “Covering them is a good way to work into sports journalism.”

Both sisters were members of the National Honors Society throughout their time at SECHS. In addition to a serving in numerous organizations hosted by the school, Terra assisted community organizations with donating coats and other materials to countries worldwide, as well as helped with local blood drives. Tyra worked as a mentor and helped with a special needs child.

Although both agreed they would miss their friends, family and the City of Selma as a whole, they said they were looking forward to the opportunity to earn a higher education and meet new people in Tuscaloosa.

“I look forward to attending the football games and just the overall learning experience as a whole,” Tyra said. “I don’t know a lot of people, but I think it’s going to be cool to meet a lot of different people from all over with a lot of diversity and do things I haven’t done before.”