Page 15 - Fred Phillips News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Within and to talk about you, other than just sending a piece of paper in a black hole, it's the most incredible experience, amen. >> amen. >> carl will get a job, i believe that we will do for carl what we've done for hundreds of others, and that is make sure that we exercise all our options to leverage our resources to help him find work. the short end is i'll make some calls. ♪ >> reporter: fred is now in college and in debt. classes have just started. his total debt for his freshman year is now more than $16,000. >> if i'm not there, speak with my administrative assistant. >> okay. >> pa...

Works to help the jeffries pay off their debt. his solution for this high school senior may force him to acquire it. >> i want to go to school. i think school is something i need, will mature me, make me a better person. make me the person i want to be. >> i ain't an afraid of you either. you know why, i'm not you. >> reporter: fred is an aspiring actor and his goal is to get into a college drama program. >> i will never allow a man to control me and control what i do. >> less than a quarter of fred's friends will ever finish college, ever. half of fred's peers have not finished high school. i...

So americans will pay for it. it's in our economic and work force best interests to nurture the talent we have in our backyard. >> reporter: pastor sorees and christie adams at first baptist see college potential in fred despite his c grades. if fred graduates with a bachelor's degree from his first choice school, he is guaranteed debt. it could be more than $50,000 worth. there's no guarantee of a job. why does it matter young black men go to college. >> high school diploma, $27,000, black males. college degree, $51,000. that's a huge gap. multiply that by 30 or 40 years over one's work life,...

>> believe yes because of motivation. if i wasn't here or anybody pushing him, i think he would be a lot more nervous and think he would probably choke. >> reporter: has he choked before? >> yes. >> reporter: they met more than a year ago when fred auditioned for a church play. >> why do you think they believe in you so much? >> i don't know. i think god definitely has a place for it. like he didn't bring us together for no reason. for every little piece to the puzzle -- >> reporter: yes, lord, we hear you, the wind. fred's mom, delores, is a single mother. she immigrated from jamaica in 1986....

>> listen, we've always been here, we always going to be here. >> i'm honored to declare this year's award years. awardees. >> reporter: in the end, despite a great performance, fred doesn't place in the top three and doesn't win any money. >> i don't feel bummed at all. this is my first national competition. and i will make sure i become the best in this nation. >> reporter: for fred, becoming the best means college. after this competition, the grand sum he has for school is zero. and acceptance means debt. >> i would like to offer you admission to king university as a member of the upcoming