Scholar of the Week: Toni Boyd of Petersburg High School
By Janeal Downs
With dreams of being a nurse filling her head since she was a child, Toni Boyd will do anything to make her dreams come true. Not only does she like to help people, but Toni specifically likes to work with children. “I have a passion for working with young people,” Toni wrote in an essay. “I volunteered at an elementary school to help children learn how to read.” One day she hopes to help children even more while serving as a pediatrician.
Other than working with children, Toni has a strong interest in art. In her spare time she knits scarves, hats, blankets, and other items. She is even able to combine her love of art and children by drawing pictures and also writing children’s books and poems. Currently, Toni is already a licensed Certified Nurse Aide which she said has been one of her proudest personal accomplishments.
After graduating, Toni plans to continue her education by enrolling in John Tyler Community College while also completing a class she is currently enrolled in to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Afterwards, Toni plans to transfer to a four year college where she will major in nursing with a concentration in Pediatrics. Her top choice for her four year college is Christopher Newport University in Newport News.
While she maintains her grades and spot within the top 10 percent of her class at Petersburg High School, Toni also participates in extracurricular activities. For example, she has been a member of Future Business Leaders of America, is the president of the National Honor Society, the vice president of the Health Occupations Students of America, and was the president of the National Technology Honor Society. Toni said being a part of these organizations helps her become a better leader and gain better communication skills. “Also being a part of these clubs lets me help other people and helps me become a better person,” Toni said.
Along with her extracurricular activities, she also gets to help others by volunteering at a nursing school. She said she has a strong interest in breast cancer, because her great grandmother was diagnosed with the disease when she was in her 50s. “It means a lot to me to be able to support the association,” Toni said. “My goal is to learn more about it and be able to help more people.”
Toni said her mother influences her to succeed the most in life, because despite any obstacles she encountered she kept moving forward. Toni plans to do the same in her future. She said knowing that all of her hard work will pay off in the end is what makes her happy. “I do not plan to give up no matter how hard the path may be,” Toni said. “Despite all the obstacles that I have gone through and I may encounter, I don’t intend to stop.”
