College Student’s Positive Mentoring Makes an Impact On Family
College Student’s Positive Mentoring Makes an Impact On Family ~ June of 2012 ~ Jasmine Beaulieu, 21, affectionately known as ‘Miss Jazzy-B’ to her students, is entering her Senior year at Cal Poly Pomona as a Business Marketing Major. Starting at Dellos Studios in 1999 at the age of 8, Jazzy displayed an uncanny maturity and self-confidence in both the classroom and as a competitor on stage. She learned critical ‘time-management skills’ at an early age due to the parental threat of ‘if your grades are anything less than perfect, dance will have to go’! From the 3rd grade through her Senior year in High School, Jazzy diligently finished the majority of her homework before heading to the dance studio each afternoon. A key member of her ‘National Champions Dellos Dance Company’ teams, she prided herself on ‘staying up until the wee hours of the morning’ in her later High School years, while still training in 4-hours of dance each day with extra rehearsals and dance competitions dominating her weekends. Touted as ‘Most Likely To Succeed’, ‘Broadway Bound’, ‘Young Choreographer’s Excellence’, ‘Choreographer of the Future’, ‘Outstanding Performer’, and featured as receiving Dance Magazine’s ‘Future Star Award’, Miss Jazzy-B has made a lasting impression on everyone she meets! A model for national bridal shows and the ‘Ingenious’ clothing line, she is also featured in ‘Tony Tee’s Hip-Hop Age’ instructional video. Carrying a hefty 20-units and on the Dean’s list each quarter, Jazzy maintains a 3.8 gpa, managing her tight school and teaching schedule with ease. She heads a holiday toy drive for CHOC and feeds homeless vets through The Veterans Association. A summer resident advisor to at-risk teens, Jazzy encourages them to attend college, acclimates incoming Freshmen and provides a support system to assure that they finish their degrees. Recently Jazzy was selected as a Diversity Ambassador, traveling to Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee to visit civil rights historical sites and monuments. Last year she won the ‘Miss Black & Gold’ title, a most prestigious scholarship that recognizes and acknowledges positive and influential women within the African American community. Projected for mid-2013, Jazzy excitedly looks forward to attending The USC Marshall School of Business. When she was a young child I remember commenting, “Jazzy-B will be the first woman President!” Only time will tell the outcome of my projection over 13 years ago! When asked if she ever gets tired of her fast-paced lifestyle, Jazzy shared, “This is the only life I’ve ever known…I’ve always kept myself overly busy so it’s taught me to juggle many things at the same time. I try not to pass up any opportunities and I feel I have the perfect balance in my life.” I received two letters last week from Mrs. Erika Oduro whose two daughters are hip-hop students of Miss Jazzy-B. Mrs. Oduro had no idea I was writing an article on her daughters’ teacher, but her testimonial provided the perfect re-cap to my feature! Alexia “Lex-O” Oduro, 11, wrote, “Miss Jazzy-B has had a positive impact on my day-to-day life and has impacted my dancing greatly. She gave me the courage to strive for my goal of making her hip-hop dance team and to not let anything get in my way. Her continued encouragement has given me confidence in my life outside of dance also. Her positive example inspires me to be bold and strong, and to encourage others, just as she has done for me!” Mrs. Oduro shared, “We bounced around studios for quite awhile before landing permanently at Dellos, in Miss Jazzy’s hip-hop class. It was obvious my oldest daughter was behind the more advanced dancers who had been training for years, but Miss Jazzy constantly gave her encouragement and praised her efforts. She pushed Alexia to improve her skills and helped her to ‘break out of her shell’ by teaching her ‘dance faces’. Because of the training and self-confidence Miss Jazzy instilled in her, Alexia made the team! This new confidence has translated into my daughter’s school-life as well. Trying out for various school competitions, activities and public speaking has been a direct result of Miss Jazzy’s personal encouragement. My younger daughter, Eliana “Ellie”, 8, is struggling with medical issues…Miss Jazzy always notices and patiently encourages her to do what she can and tells her to ‘just have fun’. It is hard to see my youngest in pain, yet so heart-warming to see her push through it because she loves Miss Jazzy and her class so much. One can only hope for a positive role-model for our children and I feel blessed that Miss Jazzy-B has come into my girls’ lives and is able to be that for them. They even want to grow up and go to school and teach dance like her! They comment on
