Laila Henderson’s Lifelong Passion For Music and Science
Since second grade, piano has been a big part of Laila Henderson’s childhood. A year after she started playing, she began to play Christmas recitals in the Flowood area. During her 9th-grade year, she joined the Brandon High School show choir and continued until 10th grade.
Zaniyah Clayborne Learned Strength and Work Ethic from Her Mom
Zaniyah Clayborne plans to attend Holmes Community College this fall to major in liberal arts. “One thing I hope to take away from Youth Media Project are writing skills for college,” she says.
Haley Bradford: Music and Supportive Family Are Her Safe Place
During her years in music, Haley Bradford received several achievements and awards, like making and remaining on the all-state choir for three-plus years, and also fared well on a Disney performance that helped her team achieve all-superior ratings.
Caitlyn Russell Uses ‘Titan Spirit’ To Never Give Up, Even Through Grief
Caitlyn Russell is also currently a junior at Ridgeland High School where she participates in many clubs including the Volunteer Club. She plans to continue to grow and embrace her “titan spirit” for the rest of her years at RHS.
La’Ziyah Walker: A People Person Who Loves Solitude and Writing
“Your only job is to be a student,” her mother regularly told her. Walker’s parents made sure that the separation had as little as possible of an impact on her everyday life. Due to this, she is still achieving academic success and doing well in school.
Former Child Star McKenzie Matthews Uses Faith to Grow
Matthews’ time on set with Chadwick Boseman opened her eyes to endless opportunities and lessons. It pushed her to thrive off the negative and push forward with the positive. By moving forward with the positive, she had to let go of all her struggles and problems.
Changing Pain into Purpose: Allison Dukes, a Divorce Lawyer in the Making
Dukes, now 17 and a rising senior at Forest Hill High School, plans to attend the University of Mississippi and then become a lawyer with a focus on entertainment and divorce.
Zariah Wheat’s Bullying Experience Didn’t Deter Her From Success
By Razhell Foster Zaria Wheat was in her spacious, brightly lit bedroom when she joined a FaceTime with three of her classmates at Madison Middle School. Earlier that day at school, they had asked Wheat, a fellow seventh grader, to join an iMessage group chat with them. On the call that night, as Wheat joined […]
‘Who Do I Turn To’: A Football Scrimmage Made Allyson Knight Want to Be a JSU Tiger
Knight, 16, was born in Jackson, Mississippi. She moved around, attending several different schools, before attending Jim Hill High School. She dreams of becoming a chef because of her passion for cooking and her willingness to try new recipes. To achieve this dream, she plans to go to college to major in business and become an entrepreneur.
Clay Morris: Of Truth and Inclusivity
Photo and story by LaShenda Hudson On a cloudy day in 2018, Clay Bingham Morris was about to give a very important speech to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School’s student body. The speech, which he gave as the sermon to his school’s weekly church service, was called “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” He was so nervous, […]
