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News Elements

·      Who- Chelsea Jenkins

·      What- Graduation

·      When- May 3, 2014

·      Where- High Point University, High Point, NC

·      Why- End of four years at High Point University, and her dad wont be there to see it.

News Values: emotional impact, timeliness

Type of Lede: anecdotal, descriptive

Imagine that the one person who meant absolutely everything to you won’t be present at the most momentous event in your life thus far, graduation. Chelsea Jenkins, a senior at High Point University, is someone who knows exactly what this means.

Chelsea is currently spending her time getting ready for graduation on May 3^rd, but the one thing that’s missing from the big day is her father.  Five years ago in 2009, one year before her graduation from Severn School, her father was suddenly taken from her family from Cardiomegaly.  An enlarged heart.  Needless to say, it changed everything.

Chelsea and her father before Homecoming in 2008

Photo Cred: Ginger Jenkins

“I didn’t know what to do with myself, it's terrifying to think about growing up and getting older without my dad there to help me through it,” she said, “he was the one that always cheered me on, he always believed in me.”

Dealing with the passing of their father, isn’t something any 16 year old should have to go through. The next week wasn’t spent thinking about school or graduation or the future at all.  Instead it was spent with family and their community arranging a funeral and memorial. 

Her mother and father both attended Severn School and were high school sweethearts.  Her father left a legacy not just by attending but also by starting a homecoming tradition, which is now named in his memory as the Garry Jenkins Memorial Chili Cook-off.

“My mom and dad met at Severn and my brother and I attended Severn, we were apart of that community for a very long time, they were like family to us,” she said “when he passed, it impacted them just as much as it had us.”

Being apart of a community such as the Severn School community gave her family something to lean on.

Jenkins' sister-in-law was also apart of that tight knit family for only a year and a half at that time.  Speaking as an insider, she gave insight as to what the roller-coaster of emotions was like during those trying moments.

"I can remember all of the events of that day as if it were yesterday. What color sweatshirt I was wearing and how quick I drove to the house after I got the call. I only knew Garry for a year and a half but from day one I knew he was an amazing father, husband and friend. I couldn't image the pain everyone else felt knowing what I felt after such a short time," she said, "I wanted to be strong for everyone, the rock that holds the family together and there for everyone when at times all I wanted to do was cry, a feeling I still carry today. The Jenkins are the strongest people I know and they reminded me how important family is."

 From left to right: Ginger (mother), Chelsea, and Travis (brother) on the day of Graduation
Photo Cred: Stefanie Jenkins

The year came and went and so did graduation.  Before the ceremony, Chelsea’s mother gave her the greatest memento to remember her father by: a ring.  A ring that her mother was given years ago by him to represent their love.  This is a keepsake Chelsea has worn everyday since to remember her father.

When it finally came time to apply to colleges, having only one parent meant that money was tight.  For Chelsea it meant that her options were limited.  She thought she wouldn’t be able to attend her dream university, and continue to focus on making her father proud despite the fact he couldn’t be there to see it.

Her mom and brother on the other hand, told her to go for it.  Attending her dream college is something her father would have wanted her to do regardless of how much it costs, and despite the amount of loans it would take. 

So she did, and here we are at High Point University.

Four years later, now she’s getting ready for her college graduation only a few short months away.  Chelsea will be the first in her family to reach such an accomplishment and all she wants is to know how proud her dad is. 

“Not a day that goes by where he’s not on my mind, I’m constantly wondering if he’s watching if and I’m making him proud, I hope I am.”