Giving Back What's Given

When Cody Freeman and Jamilah Constantine both won Atheleyne Banks scholarships, they didn’t take the $500 for granted.

Yes, they’re excited about the money—after all, it’s $500 less that they have to stress about, make, or go into debt for. But in a much more meaningful way, Cody and Jamilah are planning to use that money to give something back to other people who need help like they did.

Jamilah, a Decatur High grad, will be the first in her family to study medicine when she attends UAB in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management and then her masters in Occupational Therapy.

Jamilah had an internship with Decatur High School for the past year that allowed her to volunteer at Decatur General Hospital, Parkway Medical Center, and Alacare. She saw all three facets of healthcare and fell in love with the industry. The internship was optional, but her science and medicine teacher advised her to take the internship and she’s glad she did.

In addition, Jamilah has also been a developmental peer tutor for three years and has thrived working one-on-one with students who struggle with learning disabilities.

“I help one guy who still doesn’t know how to write his name, so I write it in highlighter and he just traces it over and over,” Jamilah says.

Jamilah chose to tutor because she had free time after school that she wanted to use to help other people. She helps students by teaching them mental skills, problem solving, and memory games to aid in their schoolwork retention.

“Helping them makes me so happy,” Jamilah says.

The Banks scholarship is one of many for Jamilah, but she is grateful for every bit of help she can get. Because in the end, Jamilah really won’t keep a cent. Her life goal is to manage a hospital for those who can’t afford one, and I’m sure she’ll end up giving back many times over what was given to her.

For Cody Freeman, an Austin grad, the Banks scholarship opened doors of opportunity.

“You know how it is,” Cody says, “when you don’t feel like you have a way, and then a way opens up right in front of you.”

With his opened opportunities, Cody plans to run a business, stay busy as a church minister, and keep helping other people.

“Anytime I see someone who needs help—I don’t care if he’s homeless, or poor, or just needing encouragement—I want to help him out,” Cody says.

Cody’s desire to give of himself for other people comes from a long-standing source: the example of his hard-working mother, Tammie Robinson.

“It amazed me to watch my momma—a single parent—working hard to give me a good life,” Cody says. 

One of Tammie’s proudest accomplishments is her ability to make it to almost every single one of Cody’s ball games. Out of the hundreds of his football and basketball games, Tammie only ever missed two.

“And while I was missing them, you better believe I was at work crying,” Tammie says.

It was his mom’s impressive work ethic that pushed Cody toward stellar grades, many basketball and football awards, and extracurricular activities. 

“My momma told me, ‘always see yourself in last place, wanting to be first’,” Cody says.

Cody still isn’t completely sure where he wants to be first, though. He’s thinking about business, finance, teaching, coaching, or sports, but he’s willing to wait to see what path opens up in front of him.

“Whatever I do, I want to give it everything,” Cody says. “My momma told me, “whatever you start, give it 110%’.”

Both Jamilah and Cody are already giving back so much, and their futures promise even more. From hospitals to businesses to basketball courts, their influence will be that of generosity—of giving back what was given to them.