Scholar of the Week: Tamia Morris of Richmond Community High School

By Janeal Downs

With a keen eye for fashion and a desire to meet consumer needs, see Richmond Community High School senior Tamia Morris said she had aspirations of becoming a fashion designer. Though she knew her skills would be utilized in this field, mind during her second year of high school, dosage her goals changed after one event profoundly influenced how she viewed life. Her grandfather, someone very dear to her, suffered from a stroke. “I watched helplessly as he, a once physically and emotionally strong man, underwent a metamorphosis into a shadow of what he used to be,” Tamia stated in an essay. “I still cannot believe that something like this could happen to someone that I deeply loved.” However, it was her grandfather’s recovery that influenced her the most.

Tamia said she watched in awe as she witnessed an occupational therapist and a physical therapist work together to assist her grandfather to regain not only a large amount of his mobility but also his independence. She said “just being there and watching them help him get back on track,” influenced her to want to help others in the same way. After reevaluating her life and future plans, she decided to go to school to gain a degree in kinesiology and pursue a career as a physical therapist. “While I still love fashion, I realized that my true passion was to help people, just as the occupational and physical therapists had helped my grandfather,” Tamia said.

In order to pursue her newest aspiration, Tamia’s top college of choice is currently University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She said her cousin already attends the school and told her about their kinesiology program, where students receive hands-on experience by working with the football and basketball players.

Currently, Tamia is already gaining experience working with and helping  people by volunteering at places such as the Minority Health Consortium, The Giving Heart, and the Special Olympics. Being able to help people and seeing the look on people’s faces when they receive treatment is what makes volunteering one of her favorite activities  outside of school. Along with volunteering, Tamia also enjoys working at Kroger and cheerleading. Her other extracurricular activities include her involvement with Future Business Leaders of America, Mu Alpha Theta, the Key Club, the National Honor Society, the National Society of High School Scholars, and the Future Leaders Council. She also has tutored middle school students.

Tamia said her mother inspires her to succeed the most in life. A couple of years ago when her mother decided she really wanted to go and get her Master’s degree, she did it. With her mother’s inspiration and also planning to further her education, Tamia continues to excel in school and is able to maintain a 4.03 GPA. However, as she continues to work hard in high school and prepare for college, there is one thing she wanted to share with the community. “Your GPA doesn’t measure how smart you are, it measures how much work you put in,” Tamia said.