Kamiyah Wimbush, VCMS's future trailblazer
Apr. 28—This program is made possible through the support of Mako Medical Labs, Prim Development and Residential, and the Vance County Public School Foundation.
HENDERSON
While introducing Vance County Middle School eighth grader Kamiyah Wimbush on Tuesday, Principal Stephanie Ayscue said she believes everyone has a destiny, but that some people are destined for greatness.
In Ayscue's eyes, greatness for Kamiyah has been written in the stars.
The VCMS principal said Kamiyah, who received the final Student Spotlight honor of the 2021-22 school year Tuesday, is a great person, leader, scholar, and a "gorgeous soul — just an awesome individual."
"I tell them every morning that they're loved," Ayscue said. "And she emanates that. It comes out of her. And she treats other people with love and kindness. She's just one of those people that stick out. She reminds me of Amanda Gorman. She's got it. And you can see it."
A Harvard University cum laude graduate, Gorman became the youngest-ever inaugural poet last year at age 22, already an accomplished author and performer. A photo of Gorman rests on one of the walls of Ayscue's office, which overlooked Kamiyah for her interview with The Dispatch.
Receiving such high praise, Kamiyah said, is a reminder that she's a role model for other students, and that she has a reputation to uphold. That's a lesson she was able to learn at home from her mother Ebony, and as a big sister to siblings Ameera Kersey, Amir Kersey and Tristan Austin-Perry.
Kamiya said her mother is always sure to keep her "on her toes" while also instilling confidence in the middle schooler.
"She's a good person, a good mom," Kamiyah said. "She tries really hard. We're there for each other. She supports me and I support her."
Even though Kamiyah wears the confidence she learned well — she's the type of kid that lights up a room — she is prone to some self-doubt, like any adolescent. Next year, Kamiyah will attend Vance County Early College although that idea initially was daunting for her.
"I'll be honest," Kamiyah said. "I didn't want to go to Early College because I felt like it would be too much pressure for me or it would be too hard. But my mom told me that she thinks I should have signed up because she thinks I could handle it and she wouldn't make me sign up for something she thought I couldn't handle."
Kamiyah eagerly awaited word on whether she'd be accepted to Early College and when she received a letter with the good news, her mom took her out to celebrate.
In a few years, there will be another acceptance letter to rejoice over. Kamiyah expresses an interest in attending a historically Black college or university, and preferably in-state, so she can be close to family.
Family seems to be a theme for Kamiyah, whether it's those life lessons from her mom, the shelf at her grandmother Bettye's Kamiyah overloaded with books or setting a good example for her brothers and sister.
As for having her own role models, other than her mom, Kamiyah spoke on that with a wisdom well beyond her years.
"Besides my mom, I really just want to be the best version of myself," Kamiyah said. "I feel like if you look up to somebody for too long, you may fall in the habit of trying to be [too much] like them or you may even just start comparing your accomplishments to theirs and feel discouraged to keep going."
Kamiyah is determined to blaze her own trail.
