Shining Knights: MVHS senior Matthew Taylor

When Matthew Taylor arrived in Mount Vernon in 2023, he was a 15-year-old newcomer from Saint Catherine Parish in Jamaica and was unsure of what life in an American school would be like.

In his native country, students did all of their school work on paper, not digital platforms,  and computers were reserved for STEM classes, which he said were beyond his reach at a time when his average grade was a tad above 66.

But within months, through sheer perseverance and hard work, the International Baccalaureate course candidate at Mount Vernon High School raised it to an impressive 85 and has stayed on the honor roll ever since.

“I didn’t realize I could do that. Up here, you’re rewarded for your hard work – that motivated me,” Matthew said. “Back home, everything was on paper. Remembering to send in work online was the hardest part.”

Now a 17-year-old senior, Matthew is a Computer Programming pathway scholar, peer counseling mentor, school photographer, Junior Achievement volunteer and student ambassador – not to mention a dedicated athlete who overcame a devastating knee injury.

His journey to academic success has been defined by determination, resilience and a deep motivation rooted in family after he and his two older brothers were raised by their hardworking single mother, who worked in a factory while she went to school.

“My childhood in Jamaica was normal. We got by paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “My mom always worked so hard for us. She would wake up at 5 a.m. to go to work and finish her degree. That motivates me every day.”

When he moved to the United States and enrolled at MVHS, he expected to be overwhelmed by the new environment. Instead, he found the transition to be very smooth.

“It was easier than I thought it would be,” he said. “Mount Vernon made it easy. There are a lot of Jamaicans here. I felt welcomed.”
Matthew adapted quickly, pushed by the desire to succeed and the example set by his mother back in Jamaica.

One of the most defining challenges of Matthew’s high school experience came the summer before his junior year. During a basketball game, he tore his ACL and meniscus during a drive to the rim.

What followed was surgery, months of limited mobility and the loss of the sports he loved – basketball and football – for his entire junior year.

“I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t play. It was really hard,” he said.

But instead of giving up, Matthew chose a different path. “I used that year to expand my portfolio as a student — more than just an athlete,” he said, adding that he served as team manager for football, basketball and flag football. 

He also became one of the school’s photographers, capturing moments that show the heart of the school community.

And through grit and determination, he found his way back to athletics, this time on the medical side.

Unable to secure a part-time job due to a lack of connections, he kept applying until opportunity arrived. First came a job at the Westchester Medical Center, and from there, an internship at The Athletic Training Room in New Rochelle, an experience he now calls “life-changing.”

So far, he has applied to more than a dozen colleges, including the State University schools in Stony Brook, Buffalo, Purchase and Oswego. On Tuesday, November 18, he received an acceptance letter from Niagara University, along with a $15,000 annual scholarship.

He hopes to pursue physical therapy, athletic training or sports management, all careers he connects deeply to his own journey.

Matthew credits two MVHS faculty members, in particular, for shaping his experience: math teacher Brian Brown and hospitality teacher Katherine Rodriguez, affectionately known as Chef Kat.

“Mr. Brown took me under his wing from the first day. He treated me like his own son,” Matthew said. “And Chef Kat, whenever I had a down day, I could talk to her. She’s very outgoing and easy to talk to.”

He said a fellow student also was a godsend.

“My friend Jahni (Rolland) … we started school the same day, met the same day. He was someone I always wanted to push myself to be better than,” he said.

Now, Matthew has become the role model younger students look up to. As a peer mentor, counselor and student ambassador, he helps create positive school culture and supports classmates who need guidance navigating high school life.

Despite his outgoing presence at MVHS events, he says most people don’t know one thing about him: “I actually like my alone time a lot. I’m always around people, but I like being by myself more than people think.”

Matthew unwinds by watching anime.

“There’s not an anime you can name that I haven’t watched,” he said, chuckling, adding that he also loves spending time in the weight room.

Matthew sees a future defined by service, sports and helping others heal.

“I know how it feels to be injured and not able to do anything,” he said. “I want to help people get back to 100 percent.”