Standout Student: Park Center Junior Overcomes Adversity
Kiah Shepherd can usually be found reading or writing, a passion recognized by her peers and teachers.
“She’s always in a happy positive mood,” says Nancy Ziemer, Kiah’s history teacher. “I really look up to her for that. She’s just a joy to have in class.”
That positive energy Kiah gives off is due to her love for education. She credits that passion to volunteering at the library.
“The library established my love reading and for writing,” said Kiah Shepherd, a junior at Park Center High School. “Something I aspire to be is a good writer and maybe one day publish my own book. Reading is just really important to me. I love the fact that I can give back to my community through the library.”
Accident Changed Everything
Kiah has always loved learning. It wasn’t until she got in accident that she realized just how much her education meant to her.
“I was on an ATV I lost control fainted behind the wheel when I crashed. The next thing I knew I woke up on the ground in the middle of the forest,” Kiah recalled.
She fractured her pelvis and wasn’t able to walk. She also broke her arm and nose. Kiah missed school for three months, but remarkably didn’t fall behind in class.
“It showed me my passion for school. How easily that was taken away from me and how easily my life could have been taken away was life changing. It showed me all of the things that are important to me, and that is school.”
This week’s Standout Student uses her accident as inspiration for writing which she one day hopes to do professionally. Her teachers say her passion for education rubs off on other students, just like her success will.
“Her success is not only going to be her success alone she’s going to have other people join in on that,” said Ziemer.
Kiah is still deciding where she wants to go to college, but plans on majoring in creative writing and occupational therapy.
Park Center Senior High School
