Mesquite ISD

Poteet High School | KEOM

Class of 2026

Cylie Jackson found her voice not in one defining moment, but through quiet acts of courage. It grew in spaces where others believed in her before she fully believed in herself. Her love for creative writing and public speaking began in middle school, but it was joining KEOM, Mesquite ISD’s student-run radio station, that opened a new door. “I finally wasn’t scared,” she says. “Other people weren’t afraid to take a chance on me, so I took one on myself.”

That decision changed everything. Cylie grew from a timid freshman into a confident communicator and aspiring journalist. She earned a national editing award from NBC. She became a leader on the airwaves and the volleyball court. 

When her father passed away during her freshman year, it was the KEOM family and her volleyball coach, Coach Depree, who offered the support she needed. That season taught her something powerful. “You can’t be self-absorbed,” she says. “Everyone has something they’re going through.” That awareness sparked empathy, resilience, and a deeper drive to lead with intention.

Cylie now dreams of becoming a foreign correspondent, someone who informs, inspires, and helps people understand the world around them. She plans to study global relations or political science and is already shaping a future filled with impact and purpose. For her, Mesquite ISD is a place where creativity is welcomed, new ideas are encouraged, and students are empowered to take the lead. 

Whether she is volunteering during Pirate Give Day, writing her first novel at the age of nine, or planning a career that blends storytelling with service, Cylie brings vision and heart to everything she does. “I want people to remember me as someone who was kind, someone who wasn’t afraid to try,” she says. And she’s well on her way.