Most high school seniors’ paths to success are filled with long nights, college applications and bright spots like prom and graduation.
For senior Emonie Smith, who is part of Richmond’s open high school program, her path requires a little more physical effort. In the fall of 2011, Smith had to have spine surgery to correct her scoliosis. She had to get 12 screws in her back and it required her to sit out most of the academic year and pass on some of her favorite activities like track and ballet.
“I had a homebound teacher and she taught me whatever I wasn’t learning at school but I think that’s when I got drive,” Smith said. “That’s when I first realized how much ambition I had because not being able to walk or stand up or even use the bathroom or shower by myself … kind of humbled me really.”
Instead of giving up, Smith decided to get serious about her recovery. Her doctor told her she could get back to ballet and track if she walked twice a day for 15 minutes a day. She and her mom began walking in the mornings and evenings and by the summer, Smith was dancing again and was even accepted into a summer ballet program at George Mason University.
“I said … I’m going to persevere so I said I’m going to make this promise that I’m going to graduate in the top 3 percent of my class and I ended up getting valedictorian.” She currently is first in her class with a 4.08 GPA.
During her recovery, she held positions in class council, student council, marching band, the Black Achievers program and Partnership for the Future. Although she had to take a break from actively participating, she was ready and willing to do the work to get back to her normal routine. “I felt like conquering the world after my back surgery,” Smith said.
Now, Smith teaches young girls dance at a local dance studio. Her high school, which is a college prep program that allows students to create specialized curriculums through classes at local colleges, makes it possible for her to take classes at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College to ultimately become a neonatalogist.
“I’ve always wanted to be in medicine so I always took science and math classes,” Smith said.
“I don’t think people focus enough on women’s health and obstetrics and all of that, they take for granted that like over in third world countries, people don’t even have clean water or access to free medical attention,” she said.
Smith said her college plans are mostly dependent on what schools will offer her the best financial aid package, but she also considered what schools could offer her a study abroad program to allow her to help developing countries and research.
“I want to do a lot of research and if I can have an internship that pays for my research that would be nice, but I want to focus primarily on going to developing countries,” she said. “I want to give them free medical attention that they don’t have.”
Her biology teacher, Emily Betts, said in a recommendation letter that Smith has the potential to fulfill her goals and even go beyond.
“(Smith’s) career goals are not just hopes; she has been preparing herself for her career through her college classes and summer programs,” Betts wrote. “She is driven to be successful and holds high expectations of herself.”
