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We sat down with Boston Prep Class of 2018 alumna Jenae Tribbett-Talley, who is about to earn a dual degree – graduating with a B.A. from Agnes Scott College and a B.S.N. from Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. During our conversation, Jenae reflected on her journey and how Boston Prep’s Persistence Project helped guide her along the process — and continues to guide her today.
Q: Tell us about your experience at Boston Prep.
While I didn’t start attending Boston Prep until I was ten, my brother Deon began attending school there in 2006. So ever since I was 5, I’ve been visiting the school, getting to know my brother’s peers, and meeting some of the staff. People even called me Baby D, after my brother. So it always felt like a second home to me.
When I got to Boston Prep, I grew out of my brother’s shadow, and became involved in a lot of extracurriculars. I ran both middle school and varsity track, played varsity volleyball, managed the boys varsity basketball team, joined the Dean’s Council, and became a Phoenix Mentor. I have maintained a connection with all my coaches, and I’m still very close with my mentee of almost 10 years.
Q: Was nursing something you had always envisioned for yourself? When did you start seeing nursing as something you wanted to pursue?
I always was a math and science nerd, so I knew I wanted to do something related to STEM. I also have a lot of family members who work in health care and I’ve always admired their stories. When I was in elementary school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and one of the careers I listed was a nurse. But it started to feel more real around my junior year of high school when I began the college search process. I realized then that I did want to be a nurse. So when I looked at colleges, I only looked at ones with a nursing program.
Q: Tell us about your journey to Agnes Scott. What was the application process like?
Pretty much every high school student gets a college prep checklist when they’re in high school, but they don’t always understand what to do with it. Boston Prep demystified the process. While my brother had applied to college before me, there was still so much my parents did not understand and Boston Prep was there to make sure we knew what to do.
My senior year, I was named a Posse Scholar, which meant I was eligible for a full-tuition scholarship from Posse’s partner colleges and universities. The school I was ultimately matched with was in Kentucky. However, I wasn’t sure it was the right place for me. Turning down the acceptance would also mean turning down a full-ride to college. It was a tough decision, but I knew I had to follow my heart.
Then, Mrs. Wright, who started the Persistence Project at Boston Prep, told me about Agnes Scott College, a private women’s college in Atlanta, Georgia. She thought it would be a good fit for me. I did a lot of research. I studied their website and looked at their social media. Quickly, I fell in love and decided to apply Early Decision. I was still worried about the finances, knowing I’d turned down the full-tuition scholarship from Posse. Luckily, I was accepted to Agnes Scott and awarded a partial academic scholarship. Still, there was the worry of covering the remaining costs. My dad worked at a university at the time, so he did some research and found that there was a “tuition-exchange program” for employees and their family members. My parents and I applied to the program, and thankfully Agnes Scott approved the exchange. I was granted tuition coverage for up to five years, ridding my family of the financial burden.
Even now, I’ll go back to Boston Prep and talk to current students about Agnes Scott, why it was the best choice for me, and how it pushes students out of their comfort zone. Without Boston Prep, I’m not sure I would have even found — much less attended — Agnes Scott. A high school with less holistic support might have just focused on getting me into any college, rather than the right college for me.
Q: How has Boston Prep continued to support you through college?
In so many ways!
Boston Prep was always just a text message away. Throughout my five years, I could expect at least one text from the alumni counselors each month — whether to ask if there was anything I needed from them, follow-up on tasks that needed to be completed semester-to-semester, or to simply check-in and see how I was doing.
Throughout the pandemic, we had regular Zoom meetings with our graduating class. It was so nice to be able to get together virtually during that weird time of isolation and see one another, to feel connected, to hear about how everyone was doing and realize we weren’t the only ones feeling a certain way.
While at Agnes Scott, I had to apply to Emory for the dual degree nursing program. Once again, Boston Prep was there. Mrs. Wright was willing to take a look at all my application materials. She read my personal statement and gave me great feedback. And then she reread it when I decided I didn’t like it, deleted it, and started over from scratch. Boston Prep was just as supportive as they’d been when I was in high school applying to college the first time around.
Once I got into Emory’s nursing program, I experienced a bit of a culture shock. I didn’t feel like I belonged at Emory right away. I thought maybe I’d made a mistake, maybe this wasn’t for me. But I talked to Mrs. Wright, and she reassured me that, yes, I do belong. I’m not sure if I’d be as confident as I have grown to be at Emory if it weren’t for her encouraging me to stick with it.
Boston Prep’s alumni counselors are always there, encouraging me to see myself as a successful student. They’ve pushed me to use college resources, and they hold me accountable. When we agree that I’m going to do something, they’ll text to remind me, and then later follow up to confirm that I did it. They want to ensure you not only get to college but thrive.
Just this year, Mr. Canto, my current alumni counselor, helped me appeal my financial aid package when I encountered a significant decrease in my financial aid. He got on a call with me and my parents right away, explained the appeal process, and helped me write an appeal letter that ultimately was approved. If I didn’t have someone like Mr. Canto, I’m not sure I would have known what to do, and I’d definitely be facing a lot more debt.
The Persistence Project is one of the best parts of being a Boston Prep student. Knowing that not only me but my family can go to Boston Prep’s faculty and staff when we are confused or need help of any kind has been a huge relief.
Q. What are your plans after you graduate from nursing school?
I’m very excited about working after finishing nursing school! I’ve completed 600 clinical hours and now work in Grady Hospital’s NICU. At first, I thought I would be a labor and delivery nurse. Then I got to Emory, did a maternity rotation at Grady, and realized it was not for me. But, the moment I got to the NICU, I realized I was the most comfortable there. The nurses I’m working with right now are amazing, and I’ve learned so much.
It’s the home stretch right now! I’m applying for jobs at hospitals in Boston, so I can live at home and save some money. Nurse residency programs are about six months long, and I want to make the most of the experience and not worry about costs. But I’m also applying at Mt. Sinai in NY because they also have an excellent NICU.
Even now, as I’m applying for nursing jobs, Boston Prep continues to help me! They’ve reviewed my resume, shared feedback, and are making sure I put my best foot forward as I take this next step.
I’m really excited about this next adventure!
