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Jasmine Edison

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience:  When asked to list her top experiences, Jasmine Edison decided to write a letter to the late Jack Kent Cooke, and a lovely letter it was.  “Dear Uncle Jack: As a Young Scholar I have learned to take risks, seize opportunities, and reach out to people.”  And then she began the long list of advantages that became available to her with Young Scholar status, including opportunities to develop her talents as a singer, composer and violinist. 

Profile:  “Why not?”  Jasmine had given that answer many times in her life – Usually when asked to try something new in class, or put in some extra time practicing her cello and violin, or even when asked to help out in the community.  But that simple two word response quoted above was what Jasmine said to her mom almost six years ago when the Georgia resident was asked if she would like to apply to be a Young Scholar.  Her answer changed her life for the better and helped send her down a path of discovery and knowledge.  Jasmine went north to Phillips Academy in New England to attend high school and made her mark both in the classroom and on the athletic fields at the historic preparatory school.  But perhaps she’ll be remembered most not for her high academic honors or the Track MVP she was awarded, but because of her dedication to community service organizations on and off the Phillips campus.  

Inspiration: Jasmine’s love for community service comes from her mother.  “Community service made an impact on every single period of my life, unfinished though it may be,” said Jasmine.  She inherited this sense of dedication from her mom who “took every opportunity she could to volunteer, and brought me along to follow her example. My earliest memories are of my mother and her friends in AmeriCorps, repairing houses.” 

Aspiration: Jasmine has two great loves – music and language ...and they both are wonderful tools to communicate, to solve problems and to find common ground.  Somehow she would like to combine her ability as a linguist and her love for music into a career where she can use both of her strengths. 

Making a Difference:  She is most proud of being named Most Valuable Player on the Phillips women’s track squad.  “That may sound corny, but it takes a lot to earn MVP. You have to be a leader, a cheerleader, a therapist, and a proxy mother all in one. I would show up to every practice with a smile on my face and make sure that everyone felt like they were truly part of the team, which can be a difficult task when you have a track team as competitive as ours. I also liked to show people what they were truly capable of by helping them run beyond their limits, and I would rejoice with them when their efforts delivered tangible results.” 

Accolades: In addition to athletic honors, Jasmine’s musical abilities were recognized by the school’s arts department.

Interesting Fact: Some musicians have a “good” ear.  Jasmine has a “great” ear.  “I possess AP, or Absolute Pitch. I can indentify and reproduce musical notes without an external reference. Basically, I'm a human pitch pipe.”

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