Sumter's Next Generation, presented by TheLINK: Crestwood's Wallace on a walk worth waiting for as he graduates despite health struggles

On the spring-soaked morning of Friday, May 23, Crestwood High School's graduating Class of 2025 will cross the stage and claim the diplomas they've spent 12 years earning.

For most, the moment marks the end of late-night study sessions and the beginning of new dreams. But for softspoken, 17-year-old Josiah Wallace, that walk across the stage will signify a well-fought-for victory after all he did to reach such a milestone.

The Wallace family first shared Josiah's story in 2010 ahead of his third birthday. Born 7½ weeks early and revived twice upon taking his first breath, Josiah was diagnosed with asthma; chronic dysfunctional outlet constipation; neutropenia, which is high risk for getting a deadly infection; seizures; genetic deformity of his fingers and toes; and a heart murmur, according to The Item archives.

Rather than classrooms or playgrounds, his earliest memories were of hospital rooms. In his short lifetime, he has had 30 primary care doctors, including a neurologist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, immunologist and pediatric surgeon. He's undergone dozens of surgeries, stints in hospitals, meetings with doctors across the country and weeks out of school.

Josiah's road through school wasn't a typical one. Because of a compromised immune system, he couldn't always attend classes in person, save for maybe once or twice a week in those early years. Even then, it was difficult to keep up. But he kept trying.

By the time he was a preteen, things began to improve. He was able to attend middle school on a regular basis, form friendships that saw past his illness and preconceived notions and have class time with teachers who cared about his well-being - physically and academically. He got to participate in activities and projects, including a rocket science project which was a highlight for him.

High school brought a different shift - this time into online learning. While it kept him safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and from common colds that could be detrimental to his fragile immune system, the tradeoff was less social connection. A sense of isolation from his classmates. At practice on the eve of Class Day at Crestwood, he looked out among the sea of faces, not knowing a single one.

But that time alone allowed him to flourish in his creativity, be it painting landscapes - brush in hand, color on canvas, building a world in silence - or using LEGO sets to create figures and figments of his wildest imagination. Working with his hands and pushing the limits of what his brain can dream up inspired his plans to attend Francis Marion University in the fall to major in mechanical engineering. The problem-solving, the building, the curiosity - all things that came naturally to a young man who's spent his life figuring this out, piece by piece.

His journey may not have been ideal, filled with ups and downs and moments of, "Why me?" But through it all, he remained resilient, and his support system - his doctors, teachers and mother, Teresa - were his driving force. To reach this milestone - and with style as he graduates in the top 5% of his class - is "comforting."

"It took a lot to get here," he expressed in his quiet cadence.

To those who may face challenges that seem too big to bear and too hard to talk about, he shared the words that comforted him through his struggles and successes.

"Just keep going; you'll get near the end soon. Be motivated, and keep trying until you make it."