Rankin923web

KIDS WHO CARE
Avery Meredith
Mistie Desper
MATTHEW 5:14 SAYS,
“YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF
THE WORLD.” THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT FLORENCE
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR,
AVERY MEREDITH IS
SETTING OUT TO BE
AMONG HER PEERS.
Moving eight different times before her
8th grade year, Avery experienced many towns
and many different people. Once settled into
Florence, she knew what a special place it was
going to be. “Florence has so many opportunities
and so many places to serve. I am so
grateful and love my community. Moving
around so much at a young age, I learned
quickly that you have to adapt to where you
are, and in every place or situation, you can
make a difference.”
Avery’s father, Jed, said, “If kindness,
care, joy, and love had a picture beside them,
it would be a picture of her.”
Avery, now 17, enjoys lending a hand at
church whenever she can, especially when
getting to work with children. “I was saved at
13, a little later than average, so I realize how
important it is to have that influence in your
life, especially when there is so much negativity
in the world today.” Mom, Corrine Bradford,
said, “She has a soul that illuminates everything
and everyone around her. She has shown
a level of love and compassion for others that
is unimaginable since she was born.”
Being active at her church, Victory
Congregational Methodist Church, Avery
helps with kids’ camp, vacation Bible school,
and younger students all while serving on the
worship team, singing, and soon to be leading
a young women’s bible study. “I have always
been a huge planner, but I love how I get to let
go and spend time in fellowship with younger
students. Knowing that I am being watched
holds me accountable and that is very important
to me that I send a positive message. I want
everyone to feel loved and know their worth.”
Jed added, “I have always had a saying ‘we are
either affecting people for Christ or defecting
people for Christ’ and Avery is an affector.
She embodies what a Christian is supposed to
be and is always putting others before herself.”
Along with making a difference in the
community, Avery excels academically at
Florence. Currently ranked 4th in her senior
class, she is part of the high ACT honors,
student council VP, Beta Club member,
Medical Science Academy member, and
Random Acts of Kindness Club member,
among others. Her love of serving her fellow
man led her to be a part of HOSA, Health
Occupations Students of America. HOSA
offers a competition designed to motivate
members to improve their knowledge and
skills for a future in the medical field.
Of Avery’s 4 HOSA competitions, she has
placed 3rd in the state.
During her free time, Avery enjoys
spending time with her siblings, Katelyn,
Colton, and Connor, her friends, and being
the co-captain of the Florence High School
varsity dance team. She also enjoys dancing at
Studio Sole. She joked, “I feel like this place
[the dance studio] is my second home. I love it
so much.”
Although senior year has just begun,
Avery is already looking to the future.
Currently taking dual enrollment courses
at Hinds Community College, she plans to
enroll in EMT school this spring. “I know
I want to work in nursing. I am still open
minded to my college choices but I really
want a taste of everything in the medical field.
After nursing school, I feel like I may lean
towards pediatric emergency room medicine.”
“She is the most selfless individual I have
ever met,” added Jed.
Avery concluded, “I think back to all
those people I have looked up to that molded
me into who I am. It makes me feel honored
to show children the simple beauty of life and
the Lord, especially when so much good can
be drowned out these days with the struggles
of the world. It is so important to me to be
that to someone else.”
“Her presence can brighten any dark place
and she has a way of making you want to be a
better person. I cannot describe how proud
I am of her, and how fortunate and blessed
I am to be her mother,” said Corrine. Jed
added, “I could not be more proud of who she
is as a person, but most of all, being a follower of
Christ. I am blessed to have her as a daughter,
and I know God has great plans for her.”
Avery has already touched the lives of so
many and hopes to continue to use her
innate love of serving others, especially
children, in her future career in medicine.
Jed and stepmother Jessica concluded,
“We love you and are so proud of you.”
Hometown RANKIN • 59