One thing Jada Reed appreciates about her mother is that she always has something for them to do in the community. They often volunteer within the community. Specifically, they help feed and comfort people at a local homeless shelter. One Thanksgiving, Jada volunteered at the Shelter for Battered Women. During this experience, she fed the victims, donated jewelry and played games with them. “It made me feel really good to know that I really helped them when they were in a tough situation,” Jada stated in an essay. Experiences like these made her feel good because she got to lift other people’s moods. Jada also volunteered at a local elementary school where she planted crops for a culinary class. This experience allowed for the students to have food to cook for their class and also learn how to plant.

Now that Jada has graduated high school, she hopes to continue making a difference. She plans to do this by continuing her education and pursuing a biology degree with a minor in criminal justice. “I watch a lot of Law and Order and Investigation Discovery, and I’ve always been interested in the criminal justice field,” Jada said. The reason she decided to major in biology is because of the wide range of job opportunities in the field. Some jobs Jada is considering include careers as a biology teacher, a forensic detective or a clinical psychologist. This fall, Jada will attend Virginia State University. The school’s proximity to her home, the variety of activities and the numerous student recommendations influenced her to choose VSU over other universities. One lesson Jada will take with her from high school is to “stay motivated and don’t procrastinate.”

Outside of volunteering, Jada also worked part time in high school, an experience she said taught her responsibility. Having to juggle work and school, she kept her grades up and finished with a 3.1 GPA. In her free time, Jada liked to spend time with her friends, be outside, shop and do anything that kept her occupied.

One of Jada’s biggest motivations in life is her mother. From helping her get involved in the community to constantly supporting her, Jada said she appreciated her mother’s efforts. Her mother didn’t get the chance to attend college, and Jada will be the first of her siblings to do so. “Every time I do something, she always encourages me and always tells me that she’s proud of me,” Jada said about her mother.

With her mother’s support, Jada is prepared to work hard in order to accomplish her goals in life. “In order to be successful, I’m going to have to give 100% effort all year,” Jada said. “There may be obstacles along the way, but they’ll never hold me back from getting to where I want to be, they’ll just make me work harder.”