ODESSA, Texas — A part of Jhki Atchison's major lessons in life came at a time when his education was at the top of his mind.
During his sophomore year, Atchison shared he tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus on both sides during football.
Atchison had surgery on his knee, but to his surprise, his recovery was a much longer road ahead than he expected.
"I mean, from playing sports and getting hurt, that definitely put me in a huge set back," Atchison said. "I felt like I really didn't have anybody on my side. It was like having to relearn how to walk and be wheelchair bound for six months. It took a toll on me for sure."
Being away from the traditional classroom setting became challenging for Atchison. He felt he was falling behind while his peers continued to learn. It all took a toll on Atchison, who always dreamt of becoming a doctor, but felt his education then was becoming too difficult.
Atchison shared he felt the support from his mother and his uncle, who he called his father. However, he wanted further support beyond his home as well.
Soon, Atchison's family came to learn about the Ector County Acceleration Academies Program.
"It is a program that focuses on assisting Ector County ISD (ECISD) with recovering dropout students and preventing students from dropping out [....} We review students' background, talk to the students, and engage what it is that they want to do with themselves after they get their diploma or graduate," said Natosha Scott, the district director for the Ector County Acceleration Academy (EAA).
According to Alicia Syverson, the associate superintendent who oversees the program, Ector County ISD's partnership with the EAA began back in 2020.
"Rather than allow students to drop out or disengage from the school, we know the financial impact that has on their future and so we do want to provide that safety net for students to be aggressively pursued. We do go knock on doors, we do our dropout recovery opportunity where we do find students who have dropped out of school but then also to give them an option to complete," Syverson said. "This is a generational impact on families. It doesn't just impact them if they don't graduate from high school, but it impacts their children, potentially their children's children. So we want to make sure every child leaves ECISD with as much earning income as possible to have a positive impact on the community."
Initially while joining the program, Atchison had to learn the concept of "self-paced work." The program also gave its "graduation candidates," requirements such as 20 hours of attendance each week, one course completed within 21-30 days and tracking progress.
Scott said some of the experiences may make it difficult for students to fulfill their education in the traditional school classroom.
"Some students may have some behavioral problems and maybe aren't doing so well in the traditional school setting, or a student may have a death in the family and has to work 40 hours a week and school isn't quite the easiest route for them," said Scott.
Atchison shared he found support in Scott and the other teachers within the EAA. Unfortunately, his uncle died before he could see Atchison receive his diploma. Once again, it became challenging for Atchison to leave his home and move forward with his education.
"That was his biggest dream ever, he was like, 'I'm just going to make it so you can graduate,'" said Atchison. "He always told me he wanted to be there so bad. He was this close."
Atchison had told himself he was going to graduate at the same time his peers did back in Permian High. It took some time, but the young man shared the support he received and his ambition helped him remember his goal.
During May of 2024, Atchison graduated with one diploma from Permian High, and another from the EAA.
"I'm just happy that I did accomplish what I did and I just feel like he's looking down, smiling at me right now. Most definitely," said Atchison.
Atchison said he is currently enrolled at University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) as a pre-med student.
He was invited to speak at an ECISD board meeting on Sept. 18 where, "Jhki Atchison said he was not a bad kid; he got hurt and was wheelchair bound for a time and it put him in a bad frame of mind. He dropped out but Ector Acceleration Academies (EAA) gave him a flexible alternative and helped him mature and graduate. He said he now attends UTPB and is majoring in pre-med," according to Ector County ISD.