"A Student With a Plan" by Jancison Bedwell

Kaniya Smotherman is a remarkable person with drive and determination. At seventeen she has already graduated from high school and is currently in her second semester at Forrest Park Community College. Her high school years were spent at Marquette High School in Chesterfield Missouri. Kaniya is very ambitious and has set many goals for herself, like becoming a dermatologist or maybe even a psychiatrist. Her next step is the University of Missouri. It’s hard to believe at seventeen she has such great plans for her life.

Kaniya speaks of her family often. She is contemplating getting a portrait tattoo of her grandmother, but she knows it will be very painful, and says that is the only reason why she might not get it. Her great grandmother is her favorite family member, and has lots of love and admiration for her. She told me with a smile, “She’s not like other great grandmothers.” From what I gathered she is someone we would all love to be around. Her family suffered a great loss when her aunt passed away. It was painful and hurt her very deeply. As a direct result of this her cousins moved in with her family. Kaniya is an only child and this was a very big change in her everyday life. Her family means more to her than anything in in the world!

This young lady speaks about big issues like violence, homelessness, and helping others in general. Kaniya would like to help get all the guns off of the street and end the violence altogether. Homelessness is another topic we discussed. She said, “No one should be without a place they can call home.” If she could afford it no one would be homeless. I definitely agree no one should have to live on the streets and be hungry in America or any were in the world for that matter. What a very thoughtful, kindhearted, and well-rounded human being. This is a young lady with a lifetime to achieve whatever she would like, and I know she will.

Kaniya wants to move to Los Angeles and start her new career. Someday she plans to be married, buy a nice house, have children, and live the American dream! I know she has what it takes to do what she wants. If you ever get a chance to meet her and you get to know her, you will be glad you took the time. Her future looks great. What a great plan for such a great person. Her plan will be her reality!

When I was interviewing Kaniya, I never knew I would learn so much about one person in such a short period of time. It was a great experience and I really learned allot. Today I to feel like I can set goals and do what it takes to attain them. She is definitely an inspiration. It all starts with a plan!