teen spotlight
photography by Nikki P.
notable
being voted Miss St. Jude
quotable
“If I could be famous for one thing, it would be for finding a cure
for cancer.”
her story
This spunky St. Jude senior is as pretty on the inside as she is on
the outside. Having her peers vote to name her Miss St. Jude proves
how others hold her in high esteem, and while she’s confident,
she was surprised by the honor. “Being named Miss St. Jude was
something I did not expect to accomplish, and it is so humbling,”
she said. “The title means I am the representative for our entire
school, and that’s a big deal.”
Her winning smile, outgoing personality, honor-roll and
National Honor Society grades, leadership roles like class president
and a long list of activities including dance team, Bridge Builders,
garden club, Rosa Park Museum Ambassador, St. Jude choir and
more make her a stellar spokesperson for her school.
paging Dr. Gary
While she appreciates the title her classmates gave her, she’s already
looking ahead to attending Xavier University in New Orleans.
Despite some definite distractions in the Big Easy, she’ll tackle a
pre-med major before going on to pursue a career as a neo-natal
intensive care doctor. “It will be hard to buckle down in a fun place
like New Orleans, but I can do it,” she said.
She chose medicine after her grandmother fell ill. “When I
visited her in the hospital, I saw how hard all the doctors and
nurses worked to help her, and I knew that was what I wanted to
do, and I want to do it for infants.”
PG (parental guidance) rating
“My parents always pushed me to work harder and never asked
me questions like “why do you want to do that?” They have always
stood behind me, and I know I can talk to them about anything;
they are always there. Even though my dad travels a lot, he’s just a
phone call away. And I will always appreciate all they do for me;
they have worked hard so I can have a better life.”
tyler gary
parents’ perspective
Tyler’s dad Ezekel is retired military and set
high standards for his daughter, standards she
has met at every step. “Tyler has always made
her dad and me very proud,” her mom Jacqueline said. “She has always taken her education
very seriously.” Jacqueline believes the best
thing she and her husband have given Tyler
is love and a firm footing. “We have always
given her lots of love and support, but we
have also set a strong family and religious
foundation for her to stand on.”
parent to parent
“Always communicate with your teens. Offer guidance
and support when needed. Make sure they know they can
always come to you for any reason.” -Jacqueline Gary
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