Accepted into nine universities, one being an Ivy League, and four being notable universities, this well spoken and poised Canton High School senior is an exceptional student.

Terrill Malone, a  charismatic leader, never settled throughout his high school years and was continuously looking for ways to be more involved at P-CEP. He was not only very active all around Canton High school, but he also held a board position in almost every club or organization he has been involved with. In his freshman year of high school, Malone right off the bat ran for secretary of the Class of 2017 Student Council and won. He has held that position for four years, and has been a major contributor to the success of the club.

In his sophomore year, Malone branched out and got involved with the Business Professionals of America, an organization committed to preparing professionals through the advancement of leadership, where he held the position of vice president, and then he became the president in the following year. That year was also when Malone became active with the African American Student Association, and he has held the position of treasurer since then.

During his junior year, Malone joined Educators Rising, a club where students can come together, have conversations regarding education and come up with ways to better the learning environment. Malone then recognized that he wanted to pass on the impact that his mentors and educators gave to him, especially during his freshman year, so he decided to join Link Crew his junior and senior year in order to help incoming students transition into high school. When he was not leading a club meeting or participating in events, Malone was on the track field, running an 800 meter race and competing in high jump.

Although Malone’s schedule is filled with extracurricular activities, grades have always been his main priority. Maintaining a 3.9 cumulative GPA, Malone never lost focus of his goals since he “likes to live in the present with the future in mind.” This is because at the end of the day, he wants a comfortable and fulfilling life and does not want to work as hard as his parents did just to get by. Malone’s parents are hardworking people who have come from humble beginnings; they have been a major source of inspiration for him, and they are the reason why he has pushed himself to excel in high school.

“They made me want to do better because I see the sacrifices they had to make and how hard they have to work, and I just know that one day I don’t want to have to work that hard. I want to do something that I love,” said Malone. Above everything, he has his parents to be thankful for because of the sacrifices they have made for him. “When you grow up watching people working hard for you and making sacrifices, it resonates–at least for me it did. I just feel like I have been given the opportunity to be in a place where I can be successful. I find myself willing to work hard to take advantage of that.”

Ever since Middle school, Malone has set out to do whatever was necessary to help him get closer to accomplishing his various goals, even if he did not really want to do that job. One quote that Malone lives by, and has stayed true to, is: “Doing what you really want to do depends on whether or not you were willing to do what you didn’t want to do when it was necessary to do it.”

Malone wants to do many things in the future, but his primary concentration would be in law. “I want to start off as a corporate attorney, then one day I hope to expand upon that and do something with civil rights law. I hope to someday then get a judgeship, and then become a professor,” said Malone. “I hope to enrich the field of law while also enriching myself.”

Malone’s dedication and drive is a testament proving that hard work eventually pays off. “I want success, and I want to be successful, so at the end of the day that is what keeps me going,” said Malone. He did indeed work hard, and his accomplishments are proof of that dedication. Malone plans to continue his undergraduate education at Cornell University, and he later hopes to pursue a law degree, specializing in corporate law. He never really imagined that his future would unfold in the way that it has, but most of his success arises from the fact that he simply believed in himself and his abilities.

“You have to be your biggest cheerleader; you have to want it for yourself because no one else can want it for you,” said Malone. “Only you have the power to make something of yourself for yourself.”