Hard work and determination are two characteristics that can help people go far in life. Jessica Manning, a junior at Quitman High School, definitely portrays these characteristics, and she is accomplishing things that she never would have imagined when she was a young child.
Although she has never had a job, she has always had various responsibilities and works hard every day. One of her big responsibilities is at school: drum major.
“I’m the drum major of the Quitman High School Big Blue Crew,” stated Jessica. “It’s definitely a challenging job at times, mostly in the fact that I have to hold my position. I’m held to a higher standard than everybody else. I’m counted on to be responsible and a leader. Growing up, I was really shy, so that’s always been tough for me; when I saw the drum majors before me on the stand, it really inspired me, so when I had the opportunity to try out I thought why not. I got it, and I’ve been trying to be more confident and more outgoing. It’s really made me grow as a person to live up to the title. The easiest part of it is building a relationship with my band members because everybody is special. Everyone is always so willing to respect me.”
Her hard work as drum major has helped her know exactly what she wants to go to school to be once she graduates from high school.
“I want to be a band director,” said Jessica. “As a drum major, I like making connections with other students even though I’m a student. I love watching people grow. If someone has a question and comes to me for help, I’ll sit there and work with them and help them until they get what they need. When they finally get it, watching the lightbulb go off in their head is just so cool. You feel accomplished by helping somebody. You know that they didn’t have a clue what they were doing to start with, and just doing that in band class is my favorite part of it.”
Jessica has always played saxophone in band, and it is one of the things she loves to do whenever she is able.
“I like playing saxophone because when I look back at where I started in the beginning of my playing career and see all the progress I’ve made, I’m reminded of my goals and potential that may motivate me to be a better musician,” declared Jessica.
Not only has Jessica been reminded of her goals and potential, but she has recently managed to reach one of her greatest goals: Lion’s Band.
“Making Lion’s Band this year was the most prestigious honor I’ve ever earned in my life,” explained Jessica. “People don’t know how much work goes in to trying out for that audition, but you have to get your music prepared like a year prior. You have to start reading it a year prior to the audition. You work on it as often as possible, and it’s definitely not easy. If someone had told me I would make Lion’s Band when I was in fifth grade and hadn’t joined band yet, I would’ve said there’s no way. When I grew up, I realized that you can push yourself. If you want something bad enough, you’re going to push as hard as it takes to get there. I’ve been pushing since my freshman year. I didn’t get a call back my freshman year. My sophomore year, I got a call back, but I didn’t make the band. This year was the first year I got a call back and made the band. They only take six out of the state, and that’s the biggest award I’ve ever gotten.”
In fact, one of her best memories is when she learned that after putting in all the hard work and effort, she earned a place in the band.
“The day I auditioned for Lion’s Band, I was in the grocery store with my mom. We had just driven all the way back from Pearl, and they were taking their time giving the results of that. I was just waiting and was ready to see what I got,” recalled Jessica. “We were in the grocery store, and I got a text from Mr. Sorto saying congratulations. I started screaming and yelling and was telling mama that I did it. Everybody in the store was looking at me like I was crazy, and I didn’t even care because I had never worked for anything that hard my entire life.”
Band isn’t the only thing that Jessica has excelled in recently. She was a participant in the Distinguished Young Woman program and managed to place and win a variety of the awards. Like band, Distinguished Young Women managed to help Jessica gain more confidence and come out of her shell even more while providing her with lessons she can continue to use in life.
“Distinguished Young Woman was a great experience. It stretched me to links that I didn’t know I could go. As far as fitness, I was not prepared initially. It was very nerve racking and pressed for time. Since there was Covid, we were only able to meet on Sundays. We didn’t meet multiple times a week until the week before the program,” expressed Jessica. “I was constantly stressed, but I was really happy and content with what I got in the long run. I got second alternate, the Talent Award, the Be Your Best Self Essay Award, and the Spirit of Distinguished Young Woman which is voted on by the girls on who they think shows the most spirit of being distinguished. The program really taught me to make new friends, to not be sorry for who you are, and to embrace your true best self.”
Jessica has started pushing herself in new activities. She joined the girls’ powerlifting team at school, and it has become one of her favorite things. In just a few short months, she has seen improvements that she had never imagined and loves how productive she feels with her new sport.
“I just joined the team this year,” stated Jessica. “I love feeling accomplished after a workout and looking in a mirror and seeing new muscles I didn’t even know I had. In the span of four months, I went from squatting 45 pounds to 135 pounds. I didn’t get to compete this year because I’m not the strongest on the team. There are girls squatting 275 pounds right now.”
Jessica also participates in clubs that allow her to benefit her community. She has a very giving heart and loves to be able to contribute to the needs of those around her.
“I’m in FCCLA and FBLA, and those are the most hands on clubs that I’m in right now. In FBLA, we do an annual food drive where we donate 10 or 20 items to the less fortunate in the community, usually around Christmas time,” explained Jessica. “Last year for my FCCLA project, my partner and I did a project where we looked into Care Lodge in Meridian. It’s for homeless women and children who are in need. We took clothes and donated stuff like that and documented it all. That was my first FCCLA project, and we won first place in that.”
Her involvement doesn’t end with her participation in organizations at the school, though. When she was about three-years-old, her dad took a position as pastor of Corinth Assembly of God. She definitely does not fit the description of preacher’s kids being the worst ones. Instead, she portrays a beautiful humble spirit and shows a strong work ethic. She chooses to help wherever she can, including helping with different things in the church.
“I’m the song leader at our church. Sometimes, I have to lead the choir. I sing specials every Sunday. I do whatever they need me to do,” declared Jessica. “I’m on the church cleaning committee, so I clean the church. I’m on the fruit basket committee, so on holidays like Christmas when we make fruit baskets, I help put them together and take them to the seniors in the church or anybody we know would need one.”
When she is not doing everything with the school or church, Jessica loves to be able to do different things, such as sing and travel. She loves the knowledge she gains through new experiences, and she is thrilled when everybody comes closer together through songs.
“I’ve been singing my whole life, and I enjoy how it brings people together. When I sing a song with my family or friends and somebody sits down at the piano and we all just start singing—it doesn’t matter what it is—it brings us together, and that’s my favorite part about it,” expressed Jessica. “I like traveling. When I look at different cultures, I realize how different everybody is in their own way. I like seeing people special in their own way and different from what I’m used to seeing. Over Spring Break, I went to New Orleans and saw people from all different walks of life. It was really eye opening because in Quitman you see the same people who all look the same. When you travel around, you see different cultures, and that was just really eye opening and inspiring to me.”
No matter what, Jessica always has an optimistic view of everything she sets her mind to. She works hard to achieve her goals, and she doesn’t make excuses to stop herself from being successful. In fact, she hopes that her experiences can give others the courage they need to press on to reach their goals. That is why she offers the following advice for everyone in the county:
“If you have a dream or aspiration you want to shoot for, go for it—even if you have things holding you back. I know I’m still a kid and have schoolwork and responsibilities at home, but I still push for what I believe in. I’m in a lot of clubs, but I’ve worked really hard so I can reach my dreams in my extracurriculars like band. If you want to make a change, you can make a change. Just work hard—hard work is key.”
