After losing his family when he was just a teenager, Iquec Magee found himself homeless. Despite facing this unpredictable hardship, with the help of family and friends, he completed high school and enrolled at Jones.
Magee was adopted by his grandparents at the age of two. During his sophomore year, Magee’s grandmother passed away from cancer. She was the only motherly figure he had ever known and played a huge role in his life.
His grandfather also passed away at the beginning of his senior year. Immediately after his grandfather’s death, Magee was left stranded.
“I felt lost and hopeless, I didn’t know where to turn to, my mother was always the one I could turn to,” said Magee.
With the help of family and friends, Magee managed to pay the bills required to live in his house; however, he was not freed from his struggles.
“I remember walking to grocery stores and selling clothes just to get by,” said Magee.
Besides living in the dorm at Jones, he is currently homeless because he has no home to go back to.
“I felt comfortable in the house even though they were gone because it still felt like they were there with me,” said Magee.
His residency varies from living with a friend, or in his car, but he manages to keep focused on his goals.
Magee is a full-time student majoring in the music industry. He is an active member of the band at Jones, where he plays the trombone.
Magee remembers when Jones band director, Dr. Ben Burge, visited his high school band rehearsal and offered him, and several others, a scholarship.
The scholarship opportunities and the popularity Jones held at his school inspired his enrollment.
“Iquec has been a pleasure to teach,” said Burge. “We were all so very happy to assist him in getting his materials ready for college. I’m very proud of him and the way that he has overcome his personal issues as he strives to move forward to make something of himself. He is well loved by his peers and has always been such a delight to have in our ensembles. I’m very proud to have played a small part in his success story.”
In his first year at Jones, Magee participated in Jones Got Talent and received the third place ranking.
This was the perfect opportunity for him to gain popularity on campus and display his original music. Magee performed his original song “1.19.23” for the audience that night. The audience at Jones has helped boost not only his confidence but also his listeners.
“I love performing, a lot of people did not know I made music, even the staff asks me if I still make music,” said Magee.
Music has helped him get through the challenging times of his life. During the summer, Magee spent most of his time working on his music. He got his first gig at The Fat Cat, a bar in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
As he carries on through life, he thinks back to his mom who was very motivational to him. “You can do anything; I have all my faith in you” were the last words his mother said to him.
Magee said he uses these words to motivate himself rather than focusing on the negatives.
Magee feels that his independence has helped him grow as a person. Becoming a student at Jones was a refuge from his struggles at home.
“Jones is the best decision I have ever made. I’ve learned so much from Jones and the people at Jones,” said Magee.
by Jacarious Roberts
