By Evan Williams

It’s true that the best way to see the world change in the direction you want is to be that change.

When we asked Roderic Gatewood what he would most like to see in his community, he paused for a long moment. Clearly a man who takes his words seriously, Roderic broke his silence with five words: we need better role models.

Roderic is a unique guy, one who has his nose pressed firmly to the grindstone, but who manages to see just how big his world is, and how much bigger it could become. With a stunning work ethic, Roderic has maintained a sky-high GPA and devoted himself to a slate of dual credit courses through the Junior Fast Start Program, all while hustling up and down the court year-round, playing for two AAU teams — Cape Elite and the SEMO Bulls — and leading the Meridian men’s team to a thus-far undefeated conference record (go Bobcats!).

As a junior, Roderic is starry-eyed about the future. He wants to see the world, to study abroad. At the moment, he hopes to land at the University of Tokyo to study either engineering or international business.

Roderic is a man on a mission, or, rather, a man on several missions. While hoping for his community to be given better role models, he’s become one himself. His determination, his discipline, and his eagerness for new experiences will serve him well wherever he goes. And wherever he goes, wherever he has been, the people who have known him will have known a role model.