BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Ajiyah Jackson already celebrated one special moment when she walked across the stage during Bradford High School’s May 17 commencement. The recent graduate has since celebrated another, signing a letter of intent to play volleyball at Jacksonville’s Edward Waters University during a June 12 ceremony in the BHS gymnasium.
“It’s always been a dream since I tried out in middle school,” Jackson said of playing the sport at the collegiate level.
Chelsea LeMire, who was Bradford’s first-year head coach during Jackson’s senior season, said one of the things that was evident to her when meeting and working with her players prior to the season’s start was that Jackson had the potential to play in college. She said she told Jackson she’d do whatever she could to help make that a reality.
As it turned out, LeMire didn’t have to do much.
“Honestly, she gets all the credit for this,” LeMire said. “She took this on herself and did it. I’m just super proud of her already growing into an adult and taking that next step. She is definitely deserving of the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Jackson, a front-row player, said she was considering some other schools such as Webber International University in Babson Park. Edward Waters, though, seems like a place she’ll be comfortable at.
“When I went to try out, it just felt like home,” Jackson said. “It felt like somewhere I wanted to be.”
Jackson said she felt a connection with the Edward Waters players. That wouldn’t surprise LeMire, who said Jackson is the type of person others want to be around.
“She has so much leadership and a great personality,” LeMire said, adding, “I only coached her one year, but I could see how much people looked up to her.”
The BHS coach said Jackson is the type of player who gets along with coaches as well as teammates.
“Every time I would offer a new way of doing something, she was always open to it,” LeMire said. “She always said, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ normally with a smile on her face. She always tried to do it. Whether it worked or didn’t work, she always tried to do it for me.
“She was always willing to do whatever I needed her to do without me having to ask multiple times. She was ready to go. I was super thankful for that.”
In preparing to play in college, Jackson said she has to improve her strength and endurance.
Being mentally tough is also something she’s striving for.
“Got to get that mind strengthened,” she said.
LeMire said every player, of course, goes through a process of adapting and improving in making the transition from high school to college. Other than that, LeMire said Jackson has only “very small, little things” to improve upon.
What’ll help Jackson the most is how she responds to coaching.
“Every coach has their different ways, how they talk to you and communicate, what they do and where they put you even,” LeMire said. “I think she is a player who will adapt easily and won’t complain. She might not always like it, but I don’t think she’s a player who’s ever going to show you that.”
For now, though, there’s nothing not to like. Jackson was excited on her signing day, saying she had registered for her classes that same day. She’s officially a college student-athlete. Now, all she’s waiting for is to take that first step onto the court as an Edward Waters Tiger.
“Of course, I’m going to be nervous. I’m nervous about most everything,” Jackson said, “but I feel like it’s going to be fun.”
