When his young students make a mistake, Darius Ewing makes sure to tell them they can still find the right path. 

He tells them greatness has walked the same halls as they do, and they too possess the ability to do wonderful things. 

Ewing has certainty the students at Carver Middle School in Meridian can succeed beyond their wildest imagination, despite what test scores may suggest.

Nothing can convince him otherwise, because a special teacher inspired him decades ago to pursue greatness. 

Ewing, who served in the Army for nine years before returning to his hometown and working as the in-school suspension instructor, began singing as a young boy and continues to perform. He said he still recalls what the teacher told him about greatness. 

As an educator, he knows the value of showing students something instead of just telling them.

That’s why he invited an old classmate to visit the school. Jamese Sims, a graduate of the Meridian Public School District in 1999, knows about setting goals and surpassing expectations. 

“I felt like Carver kids need to know special people come out of the school,” Ewing said. “They have the same opportunity she had.” 

Sims took math and science classes two decades ago at the school. There, she found a love for solving equations and exploring the wonders of the world.

It didn’t hurt to have her favorite teacher – her mother – constantly asking her math questions away from school.

Her love for math and science led to a bachelor’s degree in meteorology at Jackson State University and a doctorate in atmospheric sciences at Howard University. 

Sims’ compassion to help others and her curiosity to learn how the world works led her to oversee development of satellite data products at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with NASA.

Coming home

Now, her work helps save lives and property during natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornados. Her desire to see the next generation of scientists, lawyers, filmmakers and others who dare to dream larger than their current lives at the Meridian school compelled her to return this week. 

She asked the gym of eighth graders to raise their hands if they’d seen the films “Hidden Figures” and “Black Panther.”

She mentioned the importance of role models and encouraged them to go the distance when setting goals.

“Seeing people like you achieve things you want to do makes a difference,” Sims said. “It’s OK to not know what you want to be, but you must always put your best effort forward.” 

Students sat in the bleachers and peppered Sims about her education, life dreams and challenges.

She told them her job requires much more than knowledge of science, math, technology, and engineering. She encouraged students to find the compassion to help others and develop leadership, public speaking and other people skills. 

A self-described introvert, Sims said she has worked to improve her leadership abilities and step out of her comfort zone. 

“I’ve had to adjust to be a little more outgoing,” she said. “But it feels great. I think this is my calling.” 

The day before Sims visited the school, eighth grade science teacher Amanda Shadwick had students view a NASA space station using via virtual reality technology. Students in her class said they wanted to visit in person and loved science. 

“It’s important to expose them to anything earth science,” Shadwick said. “They need these experiences because it makes it personal to them.” 

The school has a galaxy room, created to help students understand the world beyond planet earth and life inside a space shuttle.

Middle schoolers often gather inside the room to discuss the seasons, planets, black holes and other intergalactic matters. 

Jada Portis and Atoria Crowell, both 13-year-olds at Carver Middle School who both love math and science, said Sims inspired them to achieve their dreams, no matter where they currently stand. 

“No matter where we come from, we can all make a big difference in the world,” Atoria said. 

Jada said seeing Sims as a successful scientist motivates her to pursue a career as an attorney. 

“I know the laws and I think it’s fit for me,” she said. “I love to argue and help people.”  

Continuing the conversation

Sims said she plans to continue the conversation she began during her visit at the school. She wants to help Shadwick create a meteorology club and continue to encourage students to achieve more than they ever believed possible. 

“I want to let you guys know the sky is the limit,” she told the students in the gym. “Keep dreaming.” 

She later acknowledged the sky is not the limit for any of those students. She said she and others at NASA and NOAA continue to monitor images of galaxies and solar systems far beyond any sky seen by humans on earth.