Commit to the LORD whatever you do and He will establish your plans, Proverbs 16:3. These are words that Jamee’ LaTrece Smith has committed herself to her entire life and the belief in those words has paid off with tremendous results.
Smith, 21, is a Vicksburg, Mississippi native and a 2013 graduate of Vicksburg High School. While in high school Smith was in a plethora of extracurricular activities such as Mu Alpha Theta (Math Organization), National Honors Society, Student Council Representative, a cheerleader and a member of the Gator Girls Dance Squad. Upon graduation Smith graduated 15th out of 236 students with a 4.17 grade point average (GPA). Smith said, “I knew that I wanted to attend a good university so I knew that good grades and extracurricular activities were the key to making my dream a reality.”
Other key components contributing to Smith’s academic and social acumen was her strong religious background and her immediate family. Smith, who is 1 of 8 children, is the daughter of James Smith, who is a Vascular Access Manager, and Bridgette Harris, who is a Stay at Home mom. Both instilled in her the values of education and hard work. Carl Harris, who is Smith’s stepfather and an employee for the City of Vicksburg, taught her about humbleness and religious faith. “As an avid member of Word of Faith Christian Center in Vicksburg it keeps me grounded. It’s a haven that I can turn to not only in my time of need but worship and rejoice when I’ve received numerous blessings,” said Smith.
Following her graduation from high school, Smith didn’t contemplate long where she wanted to attend college. She knew that it would be Alcorn State University. According to Smith, “Alcorn is a tradition in my family. My grandfather proposed to my grandmother there and my mother and aunt attended the institution as well. I just had to come here.” Smith entered Alcorn in the Fall of 2013 with a major in Business and immediately began to put her imprint on the University by picking up where she left off in high school by joining different organizations on campus such as the Honor Society Organization (HSO) and becoming a Staff Writer for Alcorn’s online newspaper, The Campus Chronicle. She is also a volunteer for the Child Development Laboratory Center and she was recently named Miss ASU H.E.R.O.S. (Health Educators Reaching Other Students) 2016-2017.
Upon graduating with her Business degree in May of 2017 Smith plans on pursuing a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and after receiving her MBA she plans on entering the Mississippi Institute of Cosmetology also in Clinton to pursue a cosmetology license. With this degree and license she plans to open several hair salons throughout the Southern portion of the United States.
Smith’s advice to any young individual wanting to better themselves is to, “follow your dreams and keep GOD first and everything else will fall into place.”