Jackson Free Press

Zyria Thomas, a recent graduate of Callaway High School, believes that being scholarly is not something that happens overnight and takes "a great deal of time, patience, motivation and dedication." At Callaway, Thomas was a student of the month, class president, a JROTC class officer and class treasurer at different times in her high-school career.

"The best life strategy my parents ever taught me is that you have to work extremely hard in life, because there's nothing free in the real world, and nothing is ever handed to you," Thomas, 18, says. "Perseverance and persistency have guided me toward success."

Born in Greenville, Thomas moved to Jackson with her parents, Caleb and Gwendolyn Thomas, and her three siblings in 2003. She attended Raines Elementary School, where she participated in the school's Open Doors gifted program and was also nominated to the Academic and Performing Arts Complex, another academically inclined honor-roll program.

Thomas remained active in APAC when she went on to Powell Middle School, where she also on the school's honor roll each term she was there and participated in the All City District Band, making it to second chair in the clarinet section.

In high school, Thomas also participated in the Mayor's Youth Council, which is a program where teenagers work with each other and the mayor of Jackson on community-service projects, from 10th through 12th grade.

After her graduation on May 23, Thomas received three scholarship offers: the Dr. Aaron Shirley Scholarship, Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship and the Salutatorian Academic Achievement Scholarship. She plans to continue her education studying biology at the University of Mississippi.

"I want to major in biology so I can pursue a career as a pediatrician or an OB/GYN," Thomas says. "A lot of programs and organizations I've worked with, like Toys For Toddlers and Stop the Hunger, have given me a great deal of experience working with children, and I've come to feel like I was born to do it. I want to be able to run my own pediatric clinic or maybe a daycare out of Jackson, because I want to be able to work in the place I consider home."

More than anything, Thomas encourages other students to work hard, apply themselves fully and do their best to be prepared for anything in life.

"I encourage others to stay focused because the unexpected can always happen, no matter if it's fair or unfair," Thomas says.

"During my salutatorian speech I stated, 'Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. Do your best and God will take care of the rest.'"