THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603220067
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Groovy Sapien
TYPE: Profile
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER RIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
`` T'S LONELY at the top,'' says 17-year-old Steven Claiborne. That may sound conceited, but those who know Steven know that he knows what he's talking about.
The words ``hopeless'' and ``unattainable'' aren't in his vocabulary, and to tell Steven that something is ``impossible'' would only encourage him to prove everyone wrong.
``When I decide I want to do something, I don't let anyone get in my way,'' Steven said. ``I know that if I am going to succeed, I will have to do it for myself.''
Striving for excellence is something that Steven has mastered. Taking summer school classes so that he could graduate a year early was only one of his self-imposed challenges. As an African-American male, Steven believes that the obstacles he faces are greater then most high school students.
``When you are the only black male in an honors class, you feel like you are carrying the weight of your race on your shoulders,'' he said. ``The impressions I make in that classroom will be lasting. I don't want to give the black man a bad name.''
As only one of three black male honor graduates at Lake Taylor High School, Steven knows that he is making an important statement: ``By succeeding I am not saying that I am better than black. I am saying that I am better and black.''
My full name: Steven Andre Claiborne
I was born on . . . Dec. 24, 1978, when the lightning crashed and the thunder rolled.
Job: A very dedicated college-bound senior at Lake Taylor High School
Siblings: Two brothers, Charles the Annoying and Alonzo the Unknown
Educationally speaking, I am . . . young, gifted and black.
My school in three words: Crowded, competitive and spirited
The killer day means . . . being able to get to school with my clothes looking as neat and ironed as they did before I left the house.
Boy, I was pretty smart when . . . a test meant reciting my address and phone number.
But I sure felt like an idiot after . . . I ran off the stage at a talent show because I was too nervous to sing.
When I have a crazy midnight snack craving, I want . . . Cookies n' Cream ice cream with curly french fries.
My personal Oscars go to: Sandye Smith (a close friend) for most talented and sincere in a real-life drama and Mischelle Carlise (a teacher at Lake Taylor High) for classiest and most graceful performance in a real-life drama
The song of the century: ``All Is Fair in Love and War'' by Stevie Wonder
When I don't have anything else to do, I'm . . . soaking in the bathtub listening to the relaxing sounds of a slow jams tape I made and re-evaluating my purpose in life.
Best date I've had: I went to church and was spiritually renewed by God and a very special person.
And the worst? I don't usually have bad dates, because when I feel that it is drifting into the abyss of discomfort, I make the best out of a bad situation.
If I could change one thing about me I . . . would not be the only black male in many of my honor classes.
I wish my parents . . . were Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey.
The best place for mouth-watering chow is: My Aunt Romanza's kitchen on any holiday
I love shopping at: Any store that sells Nautica, Polo, Donna Karan and Tommy Hilfiger
The ultimate night on the town would include . . . stopping somewhere beautiful to look up at the sky and appreciate the stars and clouds.
I make special arrangements to watch . . . ``The Real World,'' ``Road Rules'' and reruns of ``A Different World.''
The last time I had a vacation . . . was when Bush was in office.
My best job: Being an overachiever
And the worst? Being a student
I can easily brag about . . . winning the Mr. G.Q. pageant at Lake Taylor.
In 10 years, I'd like to be . . . a Morehouse College alumni and a marketing executive for a major fashion corporation.
If I could change one thing in America, I would . . . change the negative outlooks and attitudes of and toward African-Americans.
My heroes are: Milton Pierce, my fifth-grade teacher, and Robert Davenport, a history teacher at Lake Taylor.
I am totally unique because . . . I am a black male who has been successful in life and disregarded the probability curve.
What makes you mad? When African-Americans take for granted the rights to an education that others like the Little Rock Nine have fought and died for.
If a film were made about your life, what would be the dramatic turning point? When I realized that as a black man in America I would have to strive and fight for what I want in life.
Who would star in it? Allen Payne from ``Jason's Lyric''
I should be a veejay on MTV because . . . I'm weird and like all types of music from rap to hard rock.
If I was a guest on a talk show, it would be . . . ``Oprah,'' because she has the most tasteful daytime talk show.
My life summed up in four words: Performing, learning, striving, succeeding`` ILLUSTRATION: STEVE EARLEY/The Virginian-Pilot
As the only black male in an honors class, ``you feel like you are
carrying the weight of your race,'' says Steven Claiborne.
by CNB