"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!

"Profile of Kevin Barber" by Grant Atkinson

Kevin Barber was born in 1961, so currently he is 53 years old. Kevin was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. In fact he still lives in St. Louis. In addition Kevin lived with his older brother Demetrius, his older sister Angela, and his younger brother Stephen. Demetrius is 58 but sadly deceased, Angela is 54, and Stephen is 47. Kevin lived in the Northside right by Fairground Park. Also Kevin grew up watching his favorite show Gilligan's Island. Kevin's favorite breakfast was bacon, eggs and toast. A simple breakfast.

Kevin went to Beaumont High School. He graduated high school in 1979. In addition Kevin was in a school band. He played the keyboard. He played throughout high school. I asked Kevin what he misses most of about his childhood and he said "playing with the band". Kevin has a soul of music. Besides just music Kevin got A's in his classes. That's better than me. Kevin loves loves movies and sports such as basketball and football, but he mostly loves music in high school. Mostly playing it.

Right now Kevin is a full time student at Forest Park College. His major is HVAC. Which is Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Maybe when he graduates he could work my house because ours need fixing. Kevin told me for his classes he has to use computers. Its a little hard for him. Because when Kevin was in high school he didn't use computers that much and now he is adjusting to it. Don't worry Kevin you'll get the hang of it.

I asked Kevin if he would rather be rich or famous? He told me that he would rather be rich than famous. Kevin said "I rather be rich than famous, but not rich as a billionaire or Wall Street type, but rich enough to pay bills for house, college, etc". It shows Kevin isn't greedy. I also asked Kevin if he has any tattoos and Kevin said no. Then I asked him if he gets a tattoo what would it be? Kevin told it would be the the Marine Corp symbol. I didn't ask Kevin if he served in the Marines or not. Or he has a friend or a family member in the Marines or he's a supporter. But it sounds like Kevin served in his life. Thank you Kevin. I asked Kevin, who he admires the most. Kevin said "It would have to be my father". He admires his father because his father took care of him and he was there when Kevin needed help. He is Kevin's role model.

In my opinion Kevin is very good guy. Kevin is smart and talented. He's a selfish or hot headed type of a guy. Kevin is always chill and he is always casual. He is an very interesting guy to talk to and learn from. If I learn more about Kevin it could be anything.

New Profile Series

This week, we'll share 11 Student Profiles from English 030-402 (Summer 2014). Students interviewed each other and composed profile essays of their partner. Their purpose is to show you who Forest Park writers are, in their own words.

Check out the posts on Friday, June 27.

Update: See all of the posts in the series below.

"Profile of Kevin Barber" by Grant Atkinson

"A Student with a Plan" by Jancison Bedwell

"The Life of Warnae Whitehead" by Charquisha Davis

"Michael is his Name; Auto-motive is the Plan" by Che'Myra Fields

"All About Charles Lockhart" by Karen Hendricks

"Karen Hendrix: A Wonderful Person" by Charles Lockhart

"A Woman With A Plan" by Robert Mull

"A Man of his Word" by Robin Keeney

"A Student with a Master Plan" by Michael Smith

"The Growth of Jancison" by Kaniya Smotherman

St. Louis by James

Growing up in St.Louis Mo hasn’t been easy. My name is James. I grew up on the west side of the STL. I am a 29 yr. old father. The neighborhood I grew up in is called the ‘’trax’’ which is known for drug sales and violence.

  At the age of 13, I started to do what I witnessed others doing in my neighborhood: selling crack, smoking weed and carrying guns. My choice for doing these things was voluntary and I thought it was the right thing to do because I saw that and worse on a daily basis. My lifestyle choice started to catch up with me around the age of 16. At 16,I started getting expelled from school and making regular trips to juvenile detention. The older I got I didn’t care too much about the trips to juvenile because the trips were short and quick and usually ended with my mother picking me up after 30 days or less.

You're In The Right Place by Richard Orpin

November 30, 2012

Dear English 030 students,


Welcome, and congratulations on your decision to enroll in the English 030/101 Ace Program. You’re in the right place at the right time. My name is Richard S. Orpin III. Are you nervous? I was. Take a brief moment to look around the class, and see how many others have chosen this path. Introduce yourselves, relax, and get to know your classmates, they are your greatest strengths. Communicate with each other, be open, and speak up in class. We all have something to teach and learn from one another. I give thanks to my former classmates.

Advice for English 030 Students by Laverne Young

Fall 2012.


November 30, 2012



Dear English 030 Student,

First of all I would like to say welcome and congratulation. My name is Laverne Young and I'm 33 yrs. old with two daughters, Aquria is eleven, and Desiree is seven. They were my inspiration to come back to school and fulfill my dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. When I graduated from high school, I had a five year plan for my life. I was the first in my family to graduate from high school and attend college. In that plan I would graduate from college and start my career as a R.N. at the hospital of my choosing. Well as you can see it didn't quite happen that way. I got pregnant with my first daughter, and stopped going to school in the third year of my five year plan. When my second daughter was born I gave up on becoming a R.N. because I felt I didn't have the time and my kids were my priority now. When Desiree started school, I idly sat at home alone, until it hit me: now is the time to finish school while they are learning. I know it won't be easy, but I'm determined to show my kids how you can achieve your dreams even if it doesn't go as you plan. I'm now in my third semester, and have passed all my classes with A's, so something that I’m doing is working, and I would like to share that with you.

Black Man by Reginald Williams (poem)

Note from the author: I wrote this poem in 1998, while living in Albany, New York. I can't really say what inspired this writing, other than the fact these words came to me early one morning, around 4 am. What I want readers to see is that the problems in the black community will only be resolved with teachings and examples coming from strong, positive black men.