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USC's Adoree' Jackson never forgets the 618 area code

Adoree' Jackson heard the train coming, felt the vibrations in his feet.

And so, like he did most days while growing up on South High Street, he took off running.

Friends looked on as the 8-year-old raced down the block toward his home, located just on the other side of the railroad crossing. Some screamed and begged him to stop as the warning gates dropped. Then, realizing he was determined to make it to avoid being late getting home, they cheered him on.

"I knew I was going to get in trouble," Jackson says, chuckling. "It's either I make it, or just get hit by the train because I'm going to be in trouble anyway.