Weather sponsored by:
When Jacob Socia entered Drew Central School District, he was a shy middle schooler unsure where his future would lead. Now, as he begins his senior year, he does so with confidence, crediting the school district for providing him with opportunities to lead both in the classroom and beyond.
Socia came to Drew Central in the seventh grade after living in the Star City area for much of his life. Of the handful of schools he has attended, he said none have offered the level of support he has found at Drew Central.
“I’ve had some of the best opportunities here,” he said.
In May, he had the chance to attend Arkansas Boys State, a civic education and leadership program hosted by the American Legion of Arkansas. During this week-long event, he participated in the finance division, learning about the stock market, investments, and business management. He was also elected to a city council position, representing his city in a mock government and collaborating with other students to solve challenges.
“It really helped me to develop communication and speaking skills along with leadership and confidence,” Socia said.
Socia continues to develop leadership skills locally through Beta Club, National Honor Society and the Drew Central High School track team.
He said the school’s track program is the best he has been part of, with coaches working one-on-one with athletes to find the events that fit them best.
“I've never really had quite the track program like I have here,” Socia said.
He also sings bass in the high school choir, performing for local veterans and at the State Capitol during the holiday season.
After graduation, Socia plans to attend Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and major in aerospace engineering, preparing for a career in designing and developing technologies for aircraft, spacecraft, and related equipment.
He originally wanted to pursue a construction career, but a scheduling mix-up in middle school resulted in him taking a computer class—one semester of typing and one of programming—which sparked his interest in technology and pushed him to explore the field further.
“Originally I wasn’t very fond of it, but then the more I did it, the more I enjoyed it,” he said.
Socia said the career guidance at Drew Central has been invaluable in helping cement his future plans.
“I couldn't even imagine having all this planned out without them,” he said.
The school leadership, he said, has consistently believed in him even when he has not believed in himself.
Socia once doubted his math abilities after struggling at his previous school, but at Drew Central he was placed in an Advanced Placement (AP) math class and not only passed but excelled, earning an overall grade of 114 percent.
“They thought that I was capable of it,” he said.
Outside of school, Socia is an active volunteer in Lincoln County.
Over the summer, he and his father built a Bible classroom at Star City Christian Academy, where his younger siblings attend. When his family operated a shop in The Country Village, Socia helped keep storefronts clean and appealing to visitors.
Through it all, Socia maintains a positive attitude and a wisdom beyond his years. He wants others to know that, no matter their hardships, they should not underestimate themselves and are capable of achieving great things.
“It's not about the experiences you go through, but how you handle those experiences,” he said.
As Socia begins his final year of high school and looks to the future, he hopes his journey inspires others to chase their dreams.
“Things can definitely be tough, and you might not think that you can keep going, but if you can just push yourself to the next point, then you can make it way further than you think you can,” he said.
