Future Focused

Justus Lewis always knew she would go to college—and figured out how to do so debt-free.  

It was never a question of if Justus Lewis would go to college. It was where and how much would it cost. Ideally, she wanted to earn a degree without accruing a lot of debt. So this first-generation college student, with her mother and school counselors’ help, strategized her future. She’s graduating from The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro, with plans to attend Winston-Salem State University to study nursing. As a Middle College student, she completed her prerequisites and will enter WSSU ready for the nursing program—and with a full scholarship. She wants to focus on pediatrics because of her passion for working with children.  

Lewis also considered attending UNC-Charlotte, but chose WSSU because of the opportunity to graduate without debt. 

“I like to say that I never had a dream school, but I do have a dream life,” she says. 

A Desire to Give Back 

What does a dream life look like for a high school graduate these days? For Lewis, it’s having a career she enjoys and being able to own a home—maybe even build one, if she can. She’d also like to travel. 

“I love the outdoors. I love hiking. I love a good waterfall,” she says. “Traveling has always been on my to-do list.” 

But more than that, Lewis dreams of financial independence so that her parents can live well too.  

“My main thing is that I want to give back to my parents, who have done so, so, so much for me​,​” she says.  

She’d like to be able to take them on trips with her or help them with her younger brother. Beyond that, she also wants to give back to the community by providing a center or program for youth.  

“I’d like to do anything I can to give back to the people who have done so much for me,” she says. "That is literally my ultimate goal." 

Finding Support Through Hardship 

Lewis credits her parents for guiding her to make the right educational choices to achieve her dream. They encouraged her to consider The Middle College at

GTCC-Greensboro because she could take college courses while still in high school. This would allow her to complete two years of college at no cost. Lewis, who always excelled academically, didn’t worry too much about balancing the workload. Still, some aspects of high school tested her. She also credits a special teacher for helping her keep things in perspective when she struggled the most.  

Her junior year was her most challenging, both academically and socially. Academically, she had to juggle more rigorous college courses, along with her high school classes. Today, Lewis speaks with the energetic self-assurance of a young person who knows what she wants and how to get it. But she has struggled socially because of transitioning friendships that sometimes come with shifting priorities and responsibilities. She even developed anxiety about going to school. Her English teacher, Qituwrah Browne, played a significant role in helping her through it.  

“She was my confidant,” Lewis says. “I could go to her room and tell her what was going on, and she would just listen to me. She never, ever made me feel like I was bothering her.”  

“Our students are navigating a unique and demanding path, balancing the rigor of an associate’s degree with the complexities of high school courses, extracurriculars, home life, and everything that comes with being a teenager,” Browne says. “It is a heavy lift. It is important for students to have someone they can turn to at school so that they know they do not have to navigate these challenges alone.” 

When they feel safe and supported, their brains can move out of “survival mode” and enter “learning mode,” Browne says.  

Her primary goal is to ensure that every student she encounters feels seen, heard and valued. 

Coming into Her Own 

Lewis also found help through a school project, which led her to learn more about meditation and self-care. She was initially reluctant to do the assignment because she felt overwhelmed by her workload. But it led to a lifestyle change. 

“Sometimes, with teenagers, you have to force us to do stuff, because honestly, if you don’t, we won’t do it,” she says. “If I wasn’t forced to learn about it, I would never have known about self-healing.”  

She began incorporating what she learned into her daily routine. Now she enjoys journaling in the mornings, meditating, going to the gym and taking breaks from her phone. 

Browne says it impressed her that Lewis possesses the maturity to look inward and reflect on her own role in difficult situations.  

“The Justus we see today has spent time healing and learning to value herself and her peace,” Browne says. “Witnessing that evolution has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my career.”  

As Lewis reflects on her time at The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro, it felt like a good fit from the start.  

“Going to Middle College was a very strategic move for me. Middle College gave me the fundamentals that I need for life in general,” Lewis says. But she’s not the only one left inspired by her experience there. She’s left a lasting impression. 

“We often discuss the impact teachers have on students, but we do not talk enough about the impact that incredible students have on us,” Browne says. “Students like Justus have truly changed the trajectory of my career; they remind me of my ‘why’ and my purpose. On the tough days, having a face to tie to the work makes everything more bearable.”