Sen. Scott aide encourages career center students

Barnwell County Career Center (BCCC) law enforcement students had a candid conversation about their futures with Al Jenkins, regional director for Senator Tim Scott, on the morning of Tuesday, March 7.

Jenkins was open with the seven students in participation about his family, career, and life. He only spoke briefly about operating in 11 counties for the senator and how catering to veterans is his top priority.

Jenkins, 66, has three children, five grandchildren, and a wife of 46 years. He graduated college at the age of 22 and by 23 he had a degree, was married with a son, was working in a career, and owned his own home.

At 14 years old, he was the top athlete in the state, setting him up for an athletic career in high school playing basketball, track, football, and baseball.

After graduating high school, he passed the army, navy, and air force tests. He also obtained his associate degree in business from Trident Technical College in Berkeley County.

After working for the S.C. Port Authority for 10 years, Jenkins created a business that allowed him to retire at the age of 50; mowing grass on major federal bases in the state.

“I found out there was a federal program for minority contractors and minority business owners,” said Jenkins. “If you qualified, a nine-year contract allowed you to serve the federal government.”

“I found a service in my area that wasn’t fully being fulfilled for the federal government, and it paid a lot of money. Very simple too,” said Jenkins. The grass on military bases can only be so high to avoid the possibility of someone hiding in it.

The first time Jenkins met Tim Scott was when he knocked on his door selling insurance. Scott was going door-to-door pitching his services and Jenkins was looking to buy coverage for his newly-established business.

Jenkins made a $40,000 investment into Scott; “I gave him $40,000 to start his business, but by the end of this year, America will have given him over $100,000 million.”

“One knock on a door had changed both of our lives,” said Jenkins. “The reason why we connected and really gravitated toward each other was because of our childhood. We both, if you want to say the word impoverished, poverty, poor, that's where we started.”

When Jenkins was four, his abusive, alcoholic father left their family, forcing his mother to move the family in with their grandparents.

Jenkins was born in 1956 and attended segregated schools growing up. He saw a Ku Klux Klan rally in his hometown of Goose Creek, S.C. during his senior year of high school.

“We had some problems still trying to integrate from 68 to 74,” said Jenkins.

At 14 when he was named the top athlete in the state, a game of flag football ruined his academic prowess. He was hit from both sides while jumping to catch the ball, and his knee was caught in the middle resulting in all the ligaments being torn.

“I remember the doctor telling me the next day, ‘Son, we did all we could for you. If it doesn’t heal properly, we’re going to cut it off,’” said Jenkins. “So, at 14 years old, what do you think I did?”

He cried.

“All of my dreams had centered around my athletic ability,” said Jenkins, who was now bound to a full body cast for 12 weeks.

While he was in the hospital, an older man from his church came to visit him after his family had left. Jenkins’ eyes were still red from the crying.

This man explained God had a different plan for him than an athletic route.

“We stayed together. He was 60, I was 14. Seven days until his 100th birthday, he died, and I was standing right beside him when he took his last breath; we had a 40-year relationship because he believed I could do great things,” said Jenkins.

When Jenkins passed the tests and had three branch options for a career in the military, the effects of this injury impacted him yet again.

He arrived at boot camp to begin his service with the army, and was proposed a deal– continue through without more injury to that knee and he will be taken care of, but if something happens to him due to this prior injury, the army is not responsible.

He was forced to make another life-changing choice, and he chose not to enlist.

By the time Jenkins was beginning his career and even beforehand, there was a lot of negativity from his family. Many told him he would be just like his father. In response, he never picked up a bottle.

“You guys are on the verge of major decisions,” said Jenkins, who told the students to always have another plan, because sometimes your original goal will be impacted by things uncontrollable.

“This is crazy,” said a student, “No! This is possible,” responded Jenkins.

Jenkins detailed some current and realistic opportunities for students at the local and state levels such as career training jobs.

“Right now in the state of SC, career training jobs are the number one jobs that are not being fulfilled,” said Jenkins.

In Berkeley County, industrial agencies are developing such as a submarine plant and an electric car battery plant.

Barnwell and Allendale counties are rapidly growing in the industrial sector with major new industries taking stake in the region.

“One of the easiest, quickest, career jobs that a lot of ladies are doing right now is CDL,” said Jenkins, who also has his Commercial Drivers License as yet another backup plan.

“Ladies are stepping into these trucks like you wouldn't believe,” said Jenkins. He stated there is a broken pipeline in this industry as the average age of truck drivers right now is about 62 to 65 with the mandatory retirement age between 72 to 73.

“There are three positive outcomes when you’re in high school. When you leave you're enrolled, enlisted, or employed,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins handed each student interested his card and contact information. He encourages them to reach out for guidance along their journeys, and remember that hardships can be overcome.