Jaeley Shuck, a senior at Kokomo High School, is living proof that a person can’t help being good at something they love. From middle school on, her favorite subject has been math, but with a GPA of 4.4, it’s clear she enjoys all learning, especially in her Advanced Placement classes. Through her four-year involvement with the marching band’s Color Guard and Winter Guard she has cultivated a community that feels like family. Her closest biological family is her great-grandmother, Maggie Hart.
Since she was two years old, Shuck has lived with her great-grandmother. Hart is now 94 years old and in November was put on hospice care. Shuck shares that although it’s difficult to see her great grandmother’s health decline, it is a joy and privilege to be the main care giver to the person who raised her.
“My great grandma is well known in the community for being kind and sweet. She is a lovely person with a mindset that allowed her to give her life to her family. She helped me to be down to earth and patient. She and my great grandfather, Mickey Hart who died in 2020, took me in. In a short period of time, I lost both my great grandpa, who I truly saw as my dad, and my biological father. Having to grieve a father twice is an event in my life that really shaped me. It’s made me strong and now it’s my responsibility to take care of my great grandmother,” says Shuck.
“Without a doubt, Color Guard and Winter Guard is the spark that that brings me joy. It’s a big help for getting me through the hard parts in my live. It has taught me the importance of respect. I had to prove myself, but when I did, more opportunities opened. I got to take on a leadership role. I realized how much I loved it,” says Shuck.
During band season, the Color Guard must attend a rigorous practice schedule. As flag captain during both her junior and senior year, Shuck has additional duties. Winter Guard practices many days during winter break and Color Guard has camps throughout the year. The days can be eight to nine hours long.
Besides Color Guard and Winter Guard, Shuck also participates in Environmental Club. She tries to find the time to hang out with friends at least once a week. They may go out to eat or go shopping. She especially likes spending time with her best friend she has known since fourth grade. Shuck admits that she often stays up late just to carve out a couple hours of down time for herself.
“I’d like to live an adulthood without stress. I plan on going to Purdue University Fort Wayne and majoring in actuarial science and minoring in political science. I enjoy numbers and statistics, and I’d like to work for a company that focuses on environmental issues,” says Shuck.
“I want to do something to help the community, but after two years of psychology class, I realized that being a therapist is not the route for me. Thanks to a lot of teachers who had patience with me, I’m good at math. Being good at something takes the stress off. When I get older, maybe I’ll go back and get a law degree,” says Shuck.
Shuck feels the hardest part of her life right now is watching the woman who raised her struggle with health problems. As the family member who lives with her grandmother, she is free of any resentment and unconditionally wants to help her. What helps is keeping her eye on the future and mapping out a path.
“If I set my mind to something, I will achieve it. My great grandma will sacrifice her own health if she thinks she is asking too much of me, and I don’t want that to happen. I know I will come out a better person for taking care of her,” says Shuck.
Congratulations to all of the nominees for the 2025 Fortitude Scholarship!
