Potential Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 57

ja ’ nea james Opelika , AL quotable
photography by Shelby Berry teen spotlight
stats
18 , Senior at Alabama School of Mathematics and Science
notable
University of South Alabama Hospital Intern ; National Science Bowl Participant ; Atlanta Sickle Cell Research Training Program Intern ; Black Student Union Organizer ; Ron Brown Guided Pathway Support Scholar

ja ’ nea james Opelika , AL quotable

“ Get uncomfortable with being uncomfortable .”
her story
From a young age , Ja ’ Nea has been highly invested in her education . After being enrolled in gifted classes in middle school , she took her academic responsibilities into her own hands , searching for ways to expand her education . That dedication and hard work paid off , in 2014 she was accepted to the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science ( ASMS ), a free boarding school in which classes are taught at the college level by college professors . She shares , “ In this environment , I have been given the opportunity to be well-prepared to succeed in a college setting both academically and socially .” In her spare time , Ja ’ Nea participates in a number of extracurricular activities , including the Black Student Union and Science Bowl .
what ’ s next
“ My overall career goal is to become a Naval physician . Becoming a Naval physician means that I would tend to servicemen overseas and to their family members on base , and help with humanitarian efforts around the world .”
PG ( parental guidance ) rating
“ Throughout my life , I have witnessed my mother make selfless sacrifices for me and others around her ; she has sacrificed her spare time and money to care for my grandparents , and she sacrificed her college diploma and a stable job in order to take the responsibility of raising me .” parents ’ perspective
“ In the last three years , Ja ’ Nea has proven that she can make good , sound decisions about where she is going in life . She has stayed focused on what is important to her and her education . I am very proud of the young lady she has become .”
parent-to-parent
Jackie shares this advice with other parents : “ Have tough conversations , no matter how uncomfortable it makes the child or you . The most important thing I have learned from Ja ’ Nea is that she has a voice and it is okay sometimes to allow her to speak her mind . By allowing her to make some decisions about her life , she has learned that decisions come with consequences .”
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