Korry Sessoms exemplifies the harmonious blend of athletic prowess and academic excellence.
The New Manchester High School senior, at just 17, achieved an extraordinary feat by scoring a perfect 1600 on the SAT. This remarkable score positions him within the elite top 0.05% of test takers across the nation.
Speaking with Fox 5 Atlanta, Sessoms revealed that perfection wasn’t his goal when he sat for the exam. His primary intention was to benchmark his performance post scoring roughly 1570 on a practice test conducted towards the end of the previous academic year.
In addition to his scholastic achievements, Sessoms shines on the sports field as a wide receiver for the New Manchester High School Jaguars. He attributes his discipline and consistent academic habits to the lessons learned from football.
“Football instills accountability, consistency, and discipline,” shared Sessoms. “These principles seamlessly translate to academic study.”
His teammates were among the first to congratulate him after hearing about his SAT results.
“My team, they just congratulated me,” he continued. “They were only really say, oh yeah, you’re nerdy. Nothing like that.”
Sessoms’ parents said they are proud not only of his accomplishment but also of the support he has received from his teammates and coaches.
“There is a world where individuals are celebrated and they’re not just tolerated. And to us, that is so important. For him, being a young black male,” his mother, Walisa Sessoms, said. “I mean, in a world where it can go a different way, is, you know, refreshing to know that, you know, he has that support from his team, and he also has that support from us.”
His father, Torry Sessoms, said the achievement reflects a lesson he’s always taught his children.
“It says to me that anything’s possible as long as you put the work in,” he said. “And I always tell my kids that.”
Sessoms encourages students to stay focused on their own goals.
“Don’t worry about everyone else. Don’t try to fit in where everyone else just stay locked in,” he advised. “When you’re in a class, don’t be discouraged about a score. Keep trying. It will get better.”
Sessoms plans to study engineering before attending law school. While his parents would like to see him attend Georgia Tech, he has his sights set on Yale University.