Senior Portfolio Presentation

A. Jabbar Browder
Autobiography
I am an 18 year old young man living in Boston. I was born and raised in
Boston. I have been to a few other states including Florida, Maine, Alabama,
Washington, and New York. After visiting these states, I realized how much I love
Boston. I love the reliable transportation, the tight knit communities, and the ease
of navigating the city. Everything you could possibly want is at your fingertips.
Boston is my home. Although I adore Boston, there are aspects of my city that
could be improved such as the educational organization.
My educational journey was very complex. I have attended six different
schools all together: Boston Renaissance Charter School, Williams E. Russell
Elementary School, Paul A. Dever Public School, Smith Leadership Academy,
Boston Collegiate Charter School and Greater Egleston High School. I also
participated in many different sports including swimming, basketball, karate, and
track. Although I always participated in the school communities, it was difficult to
constantly be in a state of transition. I was always the new student adjusting to a
new school and new friends.

When I started high school, I stopped participating in sports to focus on my

grades. My freshman year of high school at Boston Collegiate Charter High
School, one of the top ranked schools in Boston, was very vigorous. There were
non-stop test and tons of homework, but it was never too overwhelming for me as
long as I worked hard and studied. During my freshman year, I had acquired good
work ethics and academic skills in school. With my academic skills being
developed at school, I looked for activities to enhance my character.
During the summer before my sophomore year, I attended an eight week
training session to become a certified lifeguard. Through this experience, I was
able to learn a lot about dealing with patrons, enforcing rules, and resolving
conflicts in the pool area. The experience of working as a lifeguard has helped
develop my interpersonal skills, communication skills, and my moral compass.
Shortly after being hired as a lifeguard at the YMCA, I started my
sophomore year of high school. When I entered the 10th grade, it was the first
time I had ever gone to a public school. I left Boston Collegiate Charter High
School because the teachers were not supportive. They focused more on
developing school routines and protocols than actual student learning. After
conducting research, my mother felt Greater Egleston High School would be a
better fit for me. I was used to wearing khakis, brown or black shoes, and a
collared shirt every day. GEHS was different from my other academic

experiences. Despite my adjustment to the new school culture, I have been able to
thrive academically and grow as a person. My academic success is evident
through my scholastic achievement, which has made me the Valedictorian of the
GEHSs graduating class of 2015.
In September, I will be attending Suffolk University and pursing a
bachelors degree in Computer Science. I received two scholarships: The City of
Boston Scholarship and The Achievers Grant from Suffolk University. As a child,
I was always fascinated by technological advances. In college, I will be able to
take my lifelong love of technology to the next level. I am very excited for the
next step in my life. My time at Greater Egleston High School has prepared me to
tackle any obstacle I may face in college.