VHS Graduate Harvard Bound
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Vidalia High School Class of 2026 Graduate Kingston Ryals will be leaving rural Georgia and heading to study at one of the most prestigious colleges in the nation this fall – Harvard University.
Ryals has solidified his reputation as one of the brightest members of the area’s Class of 2026, as he has served as the Georgia 4-H President, has won multiple continued from page
state championships in extemporaneous speaking competitions, and has been very active in both his community and the school’s extracurricular activities. This reputation continues with colleges, as not only was he accepted into Harvard University, but also Yale University, Brown University, Duke University, Mercer University, Georgia Southern University, the University of Georgia, and was even granted the Georgia Tech Stamps Scholarship, which is only given to 100 students per year.
“I am the first person from Vidalia High School to even be considered for the Stamps Scholarship, so that was a really big deal. It’s been crazy to watch it all unfold,” he emphasized. “I truly never imagined that I would be in a situation where I’d have a choice between the top schools, who would all want me. It’s so full circle. There have been so many times in school where I wondered if the amount of work and effort that I was giving was worth it because I would see some of my other classmates, and they would be really enjoying high school but not stressing themselves out as much as I was.”
He continued, “Really enjoying the moment was something I had to learn to balance – in high school, you’re there to get a diploma, but you’re also these for those experiences, memories, and to have a really good time. Once I learned that and found that sweet spot where I was waking up excited to go to school every single morning, living in the moment, and taking advantage of all the opportunities I was given, everything fell into place.”
Ryals said that it was the encouragement of his teachers that led him to apply for schools, like Harvard, Yale, and Brown, as they reminded him that the worse thing that these universities could do was tell him “no.”
“My biggest thing has been [to] make them tell me no. I have always been really interested in college admissions – ever since my 8th grade year, I’ve watched YouTube videos of people sharing what schools they got in to. I remember that had caused a really bad problem of comparing myself at the beginning of high school – the other people I was seeing get into these schools had perfect SAT scores, ACT scores, or were president of a big national club, and I was just like, ‘That’s not me,’” Ryals explained. “I was talking to some teachers here and they said, ‘Apply. Why wouldn’t you make them tell you no?’ So, that’s what I did.”
He said that one of the most encouraging things to realize is that these large and prestigious schools did want to have students with rural backgrounds because these institutions want a diverse mix of students, as everyone has a different perspective to offer. “They need rural applicants, too. Rural students are just as smart, just as creative, and just as capable as anyone from any other town or big city,” Ryals remarked. “They don’t want 1,000 kids from cities like Atlanta. They’re creating a college class and a community of people that will live there – so, they want those different perspectives and outlooks. Having this rural upbringing has really shaped a lot about who I am as a person – I know for a fact that I would not be the person I am today and where I am now without the community that I found in Vidalia. That community will always be part of me, and I hope being able to take that with me to Harvard and being able to spread a little bit more of that ‘Vidalia-ness’ will show people what rural students can bring to the table. I’m just really excited about that.”
Ryals shared that choosing between Brown, Yale, and Harvard Universities was a difficult decision, as he toured each campus to try to see where he felt he would thrive most. Ultimately, though continued from page
all three schools were excellent options, it was Boston, Massachusetts, and the Harvard University campus which solidified Ryals’s decision.
“Throughout the admissions process, Brown University was my number one choice. Then, once I got into Harvard, Brown, and Yale, I was like, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do!’ It was stressing me out for weeks – I would wake up each day and not know where I was going to school, and I had to know by May 1,” he recalled. “I remember it was April 29 when I decided where to go. I’m really fortunate, and I had gotten the opportunity to go tour Brown, then Yale, then Harvard. In the end, what made me pick was how much I felt myself loving the Harvard campus and being able to truly imagine myself living there.”
He continued, “When I went to Yale, I felt so connected with the student body there, and on paper, Yale was the best place for me, but when I was walking around Boston and Cambridge, I could just see myself living there and thriving.”
Since making his decision, Ryals has accepted a scholarship from Harvard University, along with several local scholarships to help fund this next chapter of his education. He will study political science at the University and plans to later attend law school.
“Yale, Brown, and Harvard [Universities] have the strongest government programs in the country. Harvard focuses a little bit more about the application of government principles, while Yale and Brown focus more on the academia side. I am interested more in the ‘boots on the ground’ focus and having access to spaces, like the Harvard Kennedy School, which is the number one master’s government program in the country, or the Institute of Politics at Harvard, where they bring in speakers from all over the country to interact with students. Boston is such a hub, and Harvard has so many opportunities – it is a great location and I’m able to have access to several perks and resources.”
He reflected on the decision, as he shared his gratitude towards his family and teachers for their help in his journey through high school.
“I am a strong believer I would not be here if not for my mom, dad, nana, and family. They have poured so much into me and my little brother, helping us become the men we are today. I truly wouldn’t be here without their support and love. They’ve sacrificed so much to make sure that I can continue shining, and I’m just so grateful that has been the kind of family I have at home – people who love me unconditionally, really want the best for me, and are willing to do anything to make it happen,” Ryals emphasized.
He continued, “Throughout my time here at Vidalia [High School], there have been three teachers that have poured into me from the beginning. Mrs. [Margaret] Pournelle – she’s been the one teacher I’ve had like my whole four years here, and I’ve truly viewed her like a second mom. She’s my biggest supporter here. I could tell her anything – like I would tell her about awards I got in 4-H and she’d be so excited for me and genuinely be proud of me and tell other people about it. She’s always been such a light in my life. She’s just so energetic to be around, and she’s someone I’m really glad and grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to have in my life because she’s just poured so much into me and been so supportive.”
Ryals then spoke about Jillian Davis, who taught him Advanced Placement (AP) Government during his sophomore year and has coached him in extemporaneous speaking for literary competitions. “Her class is the reason I’ve decided to major in political science,” he said. “Mrs. Davis is unlike any other teacher I’ve ever had. She means business – she does not play – but I really grew to love learning in her class, and she really ignited that spark in me and made me want to question things more, like why is this happening in government? She encourages us to ask the why behind things and pushes you to learn because you won’t succeed in her class without pushing yourself. I’ve never had anything like that, and I’m just so grateful to have her in my life.”
He added, “She was also my domestic extemporaneous speaking coach. I’m a two-time state champion, and it’s because of her. She whips you into shape for that. She prints these thick binders of information, and during practice, she would be honest about how I did. She took notes the whole time and would tell me what I needed to work on, but it’s all out of love. She really helps mold you into a warrior – a state champion, if you will.”
Lastly, Ryals spoke about his gratitude for Amanda Mosley, who not only taught him English in the fifth grade but also has been his Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) advisor throughout high school. “I remember, I was telling her about this recently, I don’t think I liked her in fifth grade. I do not think I really cared for her, but coming into high school and being able to rekindle that relationship has truly meant the world to me,” he remarked. “Because of my time with her in FCCLA, I’ve traveled all over the country – we’ve been to Denver, Orlando, etc. – we’ve been everywhere. She’s seen me at my highs, she’s seen me at my lows, and she continues to love me. That truly means the world to have someone willing to show you so much support and really take your hand and help guide you. I just enjoy all the time I can spend with her.”
“Without these three women in my life, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I’m really grateful to have teachers who take so much pride in what they do and invest into students and take such a commitment to education that they want to see their students grow. I’m grateful to have been able to come to Vidalia High School,” he shared.
He recounted the lessons he learned through participating in Toombs County 4-H, FCCLA, One Act Play, and Literary, as he encouraged students to not just excel in academics, but to also connect with groups and clubs outside of the classroom.
Ryals left some words of wisdom for underclassmen and those just beginning their high school careers. “Take advantage of every single opportunity. Sometimes, you have to go out and find your own opportunities, especially coming from a rural area where we may not have as many opportunities as kids from metropolitan areas, like Atlanta,” he explained. “You just have to find what you’re passionate about and really build upon that. I like theatre – so I joined One Act. I enjoy community service – so I joined 4-H. Do things that you enjoy and that genuinely brighten your day and make you excited to get up in the morning.”
He continued, “I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason and it will all fall in line. Don’t sweat the little things – that’s one thing I’ve learned recently but wish I could go back to freshman year and tell myself [is] ‘everything’s going to work out the way it needs to work out.’ I just wish I would have listened to people when they told me that. Everything is going to work out the way it needs to work out, so have a good time while you’re doing it. I’ve received far more ‘no’s than I have ‘yes’s, but the ‘yes’s count so much and have really helped me grow so much as a person.”
Ryals advised students to understand both where they currently are and where they plan to be in the future, and to work each day to accomplish those goals.
Ryals officially turned his tassel and ended his high school career on Buck Cravey Field on Saturday morning, May 23, and is now working to prepare for his move to Boston.
HARVARD BOUND – Vidalia High School Class of 2026 Graduate Kingston Ryals will move to Boston, Massachussetts, in the coming months, as he will begin college at Harvard University.
