Against the Odds tile setter, and his wife, Clara, a nurse anesthetist, met and married
in the British Virgin Islands and moved to Mt. Lebanon in 1992.
A t age 12, A.J. Grazette was well on his way to becoming a Once back in the states, the Bushells contacted AJ’s mother in New
statistic. A knife-carrying Brooklyn street kid wearing gang York, and arranged—after many phone calls and visits to New
colors, he was disrespectful of parents and teachers, and seldom York—to have 9-year-old AJ for a weeklong summer visit.
showed up at school—or at home. During that first visit, recalls his stepmother, AJ made Dennis the
Now an 18-year-old Menace look like a choir-
MLHS graduate, Grazette,
Christopher Rolinson
boy. He shoved a Klondike
a Carnegie Drive resident, bar into the VCR, broke
was awarded the South one of their car doors,
Hills Area School Districts dished out major attitude
Association (SHASDA) to his father and step-
award for Mt. Lebanon’s mother, “and spent most
most improved student, of the time plastered to
and the Black Association the TV—when he wasn’t
of the South Hills (BASH) getting into more mis-
college scholarship. Against chief,” she says.
the odds, Grazette has suc- Though he wreaked
cessfully turned his life havoc that first visit, Mt.
around, winning the Lebanon had made a
respect of his classmates, strong impression on
teachers and family. Grazette: he was amazed
Grazette was born in that everyone here had a
Barbados, and moved to tree, a house, a lawn and a
New York City with his All for One and One for All could be the family motto. The Bushells—Roger, Clara, car—features missing
birth mother at age 3. His younger son Dante and older son A.J. Grazette—celebrate A. J.’s successful journey from from the concrete land-
father, Roger Bushell, a gang member to scholar-athlete. scape of his Brooklyn
60 M T. L E B A N O N • S E P T M E B E R 2003
home. The summer visits continued, and at stepson the extra boost he needed, when
age 13, he asked his father and stepmoth- he needed it.
er if he could live with them year-round. “I think this district had everything to do
The couple hesitated, says Bushell, “but we with his success,” she says. “So many peo-
wanted to give him the advantages that ple reached out to help and support A.J.”
living in Mt. Lebanon can bring.” So they Math teacher Susan Fretterd, one of AJ’s
agreed to have him stay. tutors and a Carnegie Drive neighbor, cred-
His first year as a high school sophomore its his parent’s tenacity for what she calls
was like the first visit—a disaster. He never “an amazing turnabout.
showed up for gym class, and failed every “I saw him grow from a young man
course and ended up with a rock-bottom uncertain of himself, to one who’s confi-
QPA of 0.9. Meanwhile, his parents kept dent and gregarious,” she says. “His par-
finding weapons in his possession. ents have done an incredible job.”
Adjusting to predominantly white Mt. Grazette crossed the finish line senior
Lebanon High School was harder than the year with an overall QPA of 3.0, miles from
14-year-old had thought it would be, and the 0.9 two years earlier.
though he acted tough, he recalls that he Blue Devil football coach Chris Haering
was in reality lonely and recalls AJ’s dogged deter-
intimidated. mination to show up every
“I was overwhelmed at day and work. “He started
first, going from a place at ground zero—out of
where I was in the majority, shape, with no experi-
to being in the minority,” he
says. “Everyone seemed
“I think this [school]
ence,” recalls Haering, “but
slowly felt his way through
smarter than me. I was district had everything the program and estab-
scared.” lished himself in the weight
But by the start of the to do with his success.” room.” Also impressed
junior year, Grazette was with Grazette’s work ethic
—Clara Bushell
beginning to find his place. was MLHS varsity wrestling
The five-foot-11, 250-pound coach Bill Lewis, who took Your Source for Quality...
teenager joined the foot- him as a senior. “He was Since 1916.
ball team, making friends such a hard worker, and a
among his teammates; senior year, he went great, positive influence on the other
out for wrestling. Strong, consistent doses of kids,” he says. “His story is an inspiration.”
tough love and follow-up by his parents— About two years ago, A.J.’s family adopt-
spot attendance checks before homeroom, ed a baby boy, Dante, who became his big
at lunch and football practice—kept A.J. brother’s No. 1 fan, bundled up and cheer-
on the straight and narrow. His parents ing at football games and wrestling match-
were at every home and away football es. Grazette remembers a match where
game and wrestling match. There were no the toddler broke away from the sidelines Fine Carpentry
after-game parties; he had to be in by 10 and ran over to the mat where A.J. was
P M., and while out, had to be in the pres-
. wrestling, shouting, “You get off my Custom Built-ins
ence of an adult at all times. brother!” The two brothers are close bud- Residential
To get through a demanding academic dies, says his stepmother.
load, Grazette sought the support of coun- Now in his freshman year at West
Remodeling
selors, tutors and teachers. He tackled Virginia University, Grazette is aiming
chemistry twice—the first time, coming in toward a chiropractic career, a way to use
dead last in the class; the second, earning his talents and determination to give back.
the highest class score. A.J. finished his “I’ve always been interested in a medical
junior year on high honor roll, his first time. career where I can help people,” he says.
As a senior, he squat-lifted 700 pounds to Since Morgantown is close enough for fre-
break the standing high school record for quent visits, maybe he’ll be the one keep-
weightlifting. ing a close eye on his family—this time
Clara Bushell credits the coaches, teach- around.
ers and kids in Mt. Lebanon who gave her —ANNE CAFFEE 712 Washington Road • Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228
412.343.9001
www.mtlebanon.org 61