By Dana Erickson
The motto is “It’s all about the kids! The time is now!” Now always leads to the future, and this week’s Spotlight is about a young man whose future looks incredibly bright.
Joshua King has lived in Colleton County since he was very young. He came from Baltimore, Maryland with his mother, Shameka Brown, to live with his grandmother who lives in Ritter. He finished elementary school at Hendersonville Elementary, went to Colleton County Middle School, and graduated from Colleton County High School Class of 2024-2025. School was not always easy. Josh did not have a lot of confidence in himself due to his stutter. He was made fun of and bullied because of the impediment. Josh was also an introvert and those things kept him from putting himself “out there.” In high school, however, he found his footing with help from his teachers/mentors. Josh comments that his mentors saw something in him that he did not, and with their help Josh worked to bring those things out of himself. Despite being an introvert, Josh is willing to try new things which put him in the path of the people he considers mentors and important influences in his life. Josh’s first venture at Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center (TCTC) was the culinary classes. While he appreciates the kitchen and the foods that come out of it, he realized that culinary was not up his alley. Josh was also involved in Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG) led by Mr. Shon Johnson. While in JAG King began to learn to have confidence in himself under Mr. Johnson’s guidance. He slowly began to see his potential. Under the JAG program Josh learned about and participated in public speaking which was initially difficult for him. The program also taught the students about networking, how to dress appropriately for a job interview; how to “dress for success” King jokes a bit. There are also leadership roles in JAG and Josh held the Vice President of Social Awareness role his sophomore year. Through JAG King was able to participate in field trips one of which was to the South Carolina State House where he was able to meet Governor McMaster.
Josh also took Automotive Technology taught by Brian Wilson. Mr. Wilson was a big influence in Josh’s life with the leadership he provided in the classroom about automotive tech and life in general. Mr. Wilson also saw potential in Josh and cautioned him about the people he let into his life, to make sure the people he hung around with added to his life not detract from it. Josh admits with a grin that it took him a little while to become consistent and more proficient in his auto tech classes. By the end of his senior year, he “got the hang of it.” King and Wilson also attended the same church, Refuge, and there Josh received another trial by fire, when Mr. Wilson called on him to teach some of the youth Bible study classes at the church. Josh’s initial internal thought was, “Huh?! Hold up, hold up!” Then his second internal thought was, “Why not?”, and he did.
It is through his Automotive Technology classes that perhaps the biggest opportunity of his young life came to him. After sending in a resume, Josh was chosen to participate in an internship program this summer with Boeing in Charleston. He participated in the mechanical assembly training program. He worked with carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum metal learning how to drill different types of holes and how to utilize fasteners. Josh loved the experience.
As aforementioned, Josh is more than willing to take on new experiences even being an introvert while in school. In addition to his dabbling in the culinary arts, his time in the JAG program, and the Automotive Technology program, his participation in high school activities list is keeps going and sometimes put Josh in the path of another person who positively influenced his life. Starting in middle school King was in band and continued playing in high school for Mr. Tom Finigan. Josh played alto sax while in band an activity he still enjoys. His was also a member of the CCHS NJROTC under the guidance of Chief Kenneth DeLee and SR1 Christopher Hutchens. Josh is also interested in potentially joining the military either in the Army or the Air Force in the future where the NJROTC program will serve him well. King participated in wrestling and track and field where his sport of choice was shotput. He was also a part of the Explorers Program with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office led by Sgt. Phillip Cole and Lieutenant Ricky Valentine. Josh also joined a Music Society Program. King is very thankful for the leaders of these programs who helped to shape him into the person he is today.
When he is not being industrious and furthering his future, Josh does like to indulge in some hobbies. He enjoys playing video games and plays his favorites such as NBA 2K ’25, Madden ’25, and Minecraft. His favorite pro basketball team is the Golden State Warriors. His favorite college football team is Alabama and favorite pro football team is the Baltimore Ravens. Josh also enjoys WWE Wrestling is a fan of Roman Raines and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. As far as movies his favorite actor is the late Chadwick Boseman which naturally leads to Black Panther being his favorite of a wide variety of movies from action to classic Disney animated films. His television viewing choices vary as much as his film choices such as Cobra Kai and Stanger Things to Spongebob Square Pants. Josh’s music choices fluctuate from Michael Jackson and New Edition to Raphael Sadik, formerly of Tony! Toni! Toné! Josh also enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Aneea Nixon, of course.
While Josh is grateful for the instructors/mentors that have come into his life, his rock and biggest support team is his family. Josh credits his mother Shameka Brown as his biggest cheerleader and biggest influence followed closely by his grandmother, Dianne Brown. He was raised in a Christian home and was taught to be respectful, have manners, and to be a good person. It is obvious they taught him well, because the young man who sat down for this interview was respectful, said “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am”, please and thank you. It is obvious that he has been raised well. Josh’s family means everything to him, and it is obvious how much when asked what he would do if time and money were no object. His first answer was he would take care of his family. He would want to make sure they were comfortable in every way. He then showed his desire to help the community saying he would donate to charities that assisted the homeless and start his own blood drive. After that he said he would invest the money to continue to care for his family in the future. Josh King is the future that Colleton County needs. He continues to look forward building his “what is to come” from “where he has been” and what he accomplished while he was there.
