Downtown Boxing Gym Graduate Stationed in Alaska with U.S. Army
We are proud of our high school graduates pursuing winning futures and doing amazing things. Jasmine Grant is one of them. The U.S. Army specialist is far away from family and friends serving our country.
Jasmine Grant, a Downtown Boxing Gym student from 2011 to 2014, has traveled a long way from her days in Detroit. She is currently stationed in Alaska, nearly 4,000 miles away, where she serves as an automated logistical specialist in an aviation unit with the U.S. Army.
“Alaska temperatures go from about -50 in the winter to mid-90s in the summer,” she says. “During the fall we begin to lose a few minutes of daylight every day. By the winter, it’s dark all day. During spring, we start to gain back daylight and the sun is always up during the summer. The winters are long, dark and cold. The summers are beautiful and amazing, but go by so fast. Plus, we’re in a different time zone. Alaska is 4 hours behind Detroit.”
Jasmine, who is 19, began basic training two months after graduating from Benjamin Carson High School of Science and Medicine in Detroit. Her Army career has also included stops in South Carolina, Virginia and Florida.
Always a good student, Jasmine says the Downtown Boxing Gym helped prepare her mentally and physically.
“Khali taught me to never give up! He also taught me, along with the others, to keep my head up, hang around people you have stuff in common with, and stay away from trouble,” she says.
Jasmine also learned discipline and teamwork. In 2014, she served as a tutor at the gym, sharing her knowledge and love of learning with fellow students.
“I tutored every subject. I wanted to do it because I’m all about giving back and helping everyone,” she explains. “It’s great to be the reason why someone else is happy.”
When her deployment ends in 2019, Jasmine plans to enroll in classes and pursue her goal of becoming a physician. She says she’s drawn to medicine out of a desire to help others and adds she’s eager to learn more about the human body and its many complex systems.
Jasmine offers the following words of wisdom to current students:
“Love yourself. Plan for your future and make short-term and long-term goals. Stay focused on your goals and keep your head in the books.”
Jasmine, we salute you! Thank you for your service and dedication.