Congratulations to our January 2026 #BuildingOurFuture Students of the Month: Jewels Trotman, a senior at Hillside High School, and Benjamin Allen, a senior at Durham School of Technology.
Jewels Trotman already understands that life is unpredictable, so while she’s driven to achieve, she also gives herself grace. Her family motivates her and she credits her grandmother for inspiring her.
Jewels says, “My grandmother has left a lasting impact on my life as she has been my number one supporter. No matter what I wanted to do she would always be there to support me whether it’s through a phone call congratulating me, words of encouragement or simply giving me a hug for a good job. She was always by my side, and I will never forget that.”
Her plans after graduation are to attend college to study psychology– possibly Spelman– to become either a child psychologist, or a family and marriage therapist. She notes however that she doesn’t set goals for herself because life is unpredictable.
Jewels considers getting accepted into Spelman College one of her successes thus far in her life, while a challenge would be maintaining excellent standing as an International Baccalaureate Student at the historic Hillside High School.
While she meets that challenge head-on, she also plays hard: she enjoys playing golf with friends, reading books, watching tv, eating, fashion, and playing in makeup.
Although matriculating to higher education is a big deal for her, she gives herself credit for facing unknowns.
“My biggest accomplishment so far has been learning to be okay outside of my comfort zone with trying new things.”
Benjamin Allen never meets a stranger, and this trait will bode well for him as he makes his way toward graduation from Durham School of Technology in the Spring of 2026. His principal says he also has a wonderful sense of humor, and possesses a strong character with a genuine care for his peers.
“He consistently values and contributes positively to the Durham School of Technology (DST) school community. He is a very personable and mild-mannered young man who never meets a stranger and easily builds positive relationships with others,” said Lamont Dixon, Principal of Durham School of Technology.
Benjamin is grateful to the teachers and administrators at DST for their support.
“This school has given me opportunities to grow, lead, and explore my interests, and the support from the teachers, staff, and administration has played a huge role in helping me get to this point,” he said.
Benjamin credits his mother for influencing his desire to succeed as well. “She’s always been my biggest supporter and has pushed me to work hard, stay focused, and believe in myself, even when I didn’t always believe in myself. Her support and guidance mean everything to me, and I wouldn’t be where I am without her.”
Her inspiration gives him the drive he needs to give his very best every day.
“What motivates me most is the desire to keep improving and to make the people who support me proud. I’m motivated by my goals and by the idea that hard work now will open doors for me in the future,” he said.
After graduation, he plans to attend North Carolina A&T State University and become a video game director. “I’ve always been interested in storytelling, creativity, and how games can bring people together, and I hope to one day create experiences that people can really connect with and enjoy,” he said.
Meanwhile, he’s building upon his successes in high school, and pushing himself to try new things.
“One success I’m especially proud of is holding Royal Court at my school for the first time. It was a big responsibility, and it meant a lot to see something new come together successfully. One challenge I’ve faced was leading a club for the first time, which pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to communicate better, take initiative, and lead with confidence,” he said.
Benjamin also enjoys playing video games and listening to music because it helps him to relax, stay creative, and maintain a healthy balance, and stay motivated and focused.
He is grateful, and eager to tackle the future.
“Overall, I believe my biggest accomplishment so far is my personal growth: stepping into leadership roles, trying new things, and learning from both successes and challenges along the way. Thank you to my teachers, family, and friends for their continued support, and thank you for this recognition.”