VI student Kimberlee L. Smith tells inspiring story of trials & triumph!
Ms Smith’s story is certainly inspiring and it would have simply been criminal if she had chosen to keep it to herself. Rather she has chosen to share it and hopes that others going through similar struggles like she did would be motivated to beat the odds and make something more than worthy of themselves.
This young, confident and honest VIslander said she made many mistakes in life, but attending the University of the Virgin Islands was not one of them. “On numerous occasions I was told that I would not amount to anything and that stuck with me to the point where I started to believe it. I did not graduate from high school, I became a high school dropout whereas I became pregnant. Yes, I had a baby at a young age, I then recognized that I had a family to support and in order to be supportive financially and mentally, I needed to obtain my High School diploma.”
In 2005, Ms Smith enrolled in the Alternative Secondary Programme to obtain her GED and graduated with top honours in Mathematics. She said attending and graduating from the Alternative Secondary Programme can be rated as one of the greatest accomplishments of her life. “It gave me a new life and a greater feeling of encouragement and self –confidence. When I received my diploma in my hands I felt like anything is possible and as each door opened my successes started. I realised it only opened more doors for me to explore what life had in store for me.”
The journey for Ms Smith did not stop there, however, and her next step was college. She attended the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College from 2007-2009. Unfortunately, an unexpected turn of events saw Ms Smith back to the drawing board.
“I did not graduate due to suspension. My behaviour and GPA went from 3.69 to a 2.01. I was discouraged for a short time but I did not let that stop me. I picked up the pieces and moved on. In the fall 2011 I enrolled at the University of the Virgin Island where I was accepted to pursue a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. When I enrolled, I was freshman, by the end of spring 2012 I was a sophomore, summer of 2012 I became a junior now I am proud senior. It took hard work and dedication.”
Ms Smith is also a peer instructor for science 100, Business 112 and Management 301. All of this she has accomplished and does while being a full time mom of four boys and maintaining a GPA of 3.89. She has also been on the Dean’s List for all four semesters.
“I applied myself and became a serious Business student. I ran for Presidency for Student Government Association and won. I am now currently the President of SGA where I am the voice of the entire Student body. Seventeen years ago I felt like nobody, like I could not amount to anything or anybody, but today I proved them all wrong I am somebody. I am the Kim Possible.”
On Sunday, March 17, 2013 Ms Smith was inducted in the Golden Key International Honour Society and just recently she was nominated into the Who Who Programme. “It’s a national recognised institution of the American academic community. The programme is to recognize outstanding academic achievement and student leadership regardless of one’s financial ability to participate.”
“I want everyone to accept each obstacle that you go through as part of life, regardless of whether it was a good or bad experience. I understand that life transpires even when we are not prepared for it, but more importantly, we have to deal with circumstances that keep us going forward. Our life is a journey filled with challenges and experiences,” Ms Smith remarked.
The young and determined VIslander is also confident that her standards for success will fill her life with many rewards. “It can also challenge us to grow in faith, compassion and integrity. Here is where I will graduate from each chapter of my life as a winner on the inside as well as the outside. The creator placed the seed of success in the exact place where it needs to be and it lives inside me waiting to germinate, to grow and to blossom.”
Meanwhile the twelve VI students inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society for their high scholastic achievements are K'desha Bloice, Ebony Browne, Cara Christopher, Sandra Daniel, Desirae Farrington, Briana Henley, Rennea Powell, Lesa Royer, Latisha Scatliffe, Kimberlee Smith, Sarai Smith, and Bernard Taylor.
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33 Responses to “VI student Kimberlee L. Smith tells inspiring story of trials & triumph!”
Single mothers rock..........
It seems that in the Virgin Islands(British), having children at a young age deems one to a life of misery and poverty, especially if unmarried. And it seems that there's a willing society that actually condones and supports this type of reality on many who have fallen on hard times.
Thankfully, in America, all dreams are possible. May you continue to aspire others that have fallen and encourage them to study at our local institution of higher learning.
Because of your success , you will have encourage others like you that all dreams are possible in America!!
Kim Possible
I am so touch by this story..Ms. Smith you have a lot of people rooting for you!
All the best for the future.