Introducing the Class of 2013 Terence 13

Introducing the Class of 2013 Terence 13 Today, we continue the series Introducing the Class of 2013: Terence 13 (today) Christy 13 Augusta Student From Local Housing Project Heads To M.I.T By Fraendy Clervaud WJBF News Channel 6 Reporter June 4, 2009 Its very parents dream for their child to graduate high school and to get accepted into a great college. Sometimes this dream can seem out of reach because of where family lives, but is that always true? Count on WJBF News Channel 6s Fraendy Clervaud. He has the story. Augusta, GAIts packing day for 17-year-old Terence Dalbert. The summer is here, but hes not going on vacation. Instead, hes getting ready for summer classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Terence Dalbert, M.I.T.-bound: Its going to be hard leaving my family. Im going to a whole other area. Graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and getting an 1850 SAT score, Terence was this years valedictorian at Lucy C. Laney High School. He plans to major in electrical and computer engineering at MIT. Terence Dalbert: I always loved math, its always been my favorite subject. Science is my second favorite. Putting those two together, its basically what engineering is. But, hes quick to tell you it was not always easy. Thats because Terence and his family live in Underwood Homes. Its an Augusta housing project plagued by crime. Fraendy Clervaud, reporting: According to the Richmond County Sheriffs Office reports, theyve received 416 violent crime cases for Underwood Homes within the past two years. The Augusta Housing Authority tells us about 450 people live here. So if you do t he math thats about one crime per person. Terence Dalbert: People have broken into our house a few times and have stolen some things. So, thats the personal experience, and Ive heard gun shots. You know, theres alot of adversity to deal with, but Ive pushed through it. Im not going to let anything stop me. Terences father says, despite living in the projects, he did all that he could to make sure his children did not end up on the wrong path. Ian Dalbert, Terences father: Just because you live in Underwood Homes doesnt mean you have to be a certain way, I have to be a fighter, sell drugs, I have to use drugs, show them that you can be smart. Lynnor Dalbert, Terences mother: Im going to miss him. Its going to be real hard, but at the same time, Im real proud of him.