When Jahni Rolland, pictured above, arrived in Mount Vernon from the Caribbean in the summer of 2023, he faced the challenge of adapting to a new country, a new culture and an entirely different way of life.
Three years later, he has earned the title of Mount Vernon High School salutatorian while also becoming an all-league football player and role model for younger students.
The path was not always easy.
“As an immigrant student at first, it was kind of tough adjusting to the culture and stuff here,” Jahni said. “High school has taught me a lot about determination and finding ways to get through struggles without feeling like you’re not getting anywhere. It has been an ongoing battle, but I always found ways to persevere.”
In search of a brighter future
Born in Dominica and raised in Antigua and Barbuda, Jahni grew up in a close-knit family environment surrounded by relatives who made sacrifices to help provide him with greater opportunities. He moved to the United States in the summer of 2023, leaving behind his parents and much of the life he knew in hopes of building a brighter future.
Today, he lives with extended family members in Mount Vernon, including his aunt, uncle, great-grandmother, younger cousin and 9-year-old half-sister.
“At first it was hard not living with my mom or dad,” he said. “But I realized what they were doing was for the betterment of me. They were putting me first.”
Jahni said growing up in the Caribbean came with challenges many people outside the islands may never fully understand.
“If you’re visiting as a tourist, it seems fun and beautiful,” he said. “But personally living there, the living conditions weren’t always the best. We dealt with hardship and struggles that made me appreciate opportunities here even more.”
Those opportunities became clear shortly after he arrived in Mount Vernon.
The allure of football in the US
While he had played soccer and cricket growing up in the Caribbean, Jahni had never played American football before arriving in the United States. Curious about the sport’s physicality and intensity, he decided to give it a try and immediately embraced the challenge.
He never played junior varsity football. Instead, he went straight to the varsity team as a newcomer still learning the rules and structure of the game.
“My first year, I started a couple games while still learning,” he said. “Then my second year, I started the entire season and made all-league. It really just came down to mentality and determination.”
Jahni developed into a key offensive lineman for the Knights, eventually earning all-league honors as a senior left tackle. Along the way, he also received a scholar-athlete award for having the highest GPA on the team.
Balancing football and academics was demanding, especially while adapting to a new country and navigating personal and financial challenges. There were moments, he admitted, when he felt overwhelmed.
“There were times where I felt like quitting because school was hard,” he said. “But my coaches, teammates, family and teachers were always there for me.”
Academics coupled with volunteerism
That support system helped Jahni thrive not only academically, but throughout the school community.
He volunteered through Junior Achievement programs led by Peggy Williams, helping teach financial literacy lessons to younger students across the district. He also worked with youth football clinics organized by his coaches, mentoring younger athletes and helping them develop both skills and confidence.
Over time, Jahni became a symbol of perseverance and quiet leadership.
“Being named salutatorian means being a representation of what you can become if you aim for the top and keep setting goals for yourself,” he said. “Sometimes it feels like you’re doing all of this for nothing, but if you continue to believe in yourself and trust in God, you will make it to the top. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Jahni said one of the accomplishments he is most proud of is the reputation he built during his short time at MVHS.
“I came here just like everyone else — just another random person,” he said. “But throughout these three years, I managed to make a good name for myself and be a good representation of Black excellence.”
This fall, Jahni plans to attend The City College of New York, where he will major in mechanical engineering. Though financial realities forced him to temporarily postpone his dream of playing college football, he has not abandoned it.
Education ‘more important than anything’
“I’m being realistic with myself right now because education is more important than anything else,” he said. “But I’m still training, still working and not giving up on football.”
Jahni hopes one day to become a leading automotive engineer, a passion sparked during childhood trips to Caribbean drag races with his father.
“The sound, the speed, the power — I just became fascinated with how cars worked,” he said. “Ever since then, that passion has only grown.”
Whether discussing turbochargers, V-8 engines, Lamborghinis or Koenigseggs, Jahni speaks about cars with the same intensity and curiosity that fueled his academic and athletic journey.
Looking back, he says none of his success would have been possible without the people who stood beside him through every obstacle.
“There were times where I felt like I was facing everything on my own,” he said. “But whenever things got really hard, they were always there for me. Without their love, support and encouragement, I would not be where I am today.”
