THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9506020073
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GROOVY SAPIEN
SOURCE: BY SOMMER RIDDICK, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
SINCE HER GRANDMOTHER'S DEATH in 1990, Kimberly Hasty's interest in the field of mortuary science has grown.
Last year the 17-year-old I.C. Norcom senior got the idea to embalm 10 pieces of beef with three types of embalming fluid for a science project. Titled ``Dead Looking Alive,'' Kimberly's project took first in her school's Magnet Science Fair in the biochemistry category. She then entered it in the NAACP Science Fair a month later at Indian River Middle School where she won honorable mention.
Due to her academic achievement, Kimberly was one of 350 students chosen to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in July 1994 at the University of Maryland at College Park.
Determined to accomplish her goals, Kimberly is paving the road to her future. She has been accepted to Xavier University in Ohio, the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Hampton University and Virginia Commonwealth Uni-versity.
She hasn't made up her mind where she will begin her studies.
My full, entire birth name: Kimberly Elizabeth Hasty
I was born: Dec. 4, 1977
Bros and sistas: Alonzo Hasty, Angela Bledsoe
My school in three words: Spirited, traditional, proud
The killer day means . . . waking up late, feeling rushed and everything going the wrong way.
Boy, I was pretty smart when . . . I won first place in the Magnet Science Fair.
But I sure felt like an idiot after . . . almost tripping up the steps in the homecoming assembly when running for Miss Freshman (which I won).
When I have a crazy midnight snack craving, I want . . . cookies-and-cream ice cream.
My personal Oscars go to . . . my mother for all her guidance, support and encouragement.
The song of the century is: ``Shower Me With Your Love'' by Surface
The grooviest musical artist is: Michael Jackson
When I don't have anything else to do, I'm . . . talking on the telephone or taking a nap.
The worst date I've had . . . was when I let a friend set me up with a guy I didn't know.
The ultimate night on the town would include: Me and my significant other.
I make special arrangements to watch . . . ``One Life to Live'' and ``General Hospital''
The last time I had a vacation . . . was last July. I attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine.
In 10 years, I'd like to be . . . a mortician.
If I could change one thing in America, I would change the perception people have of teen parents. They are perceived to be bad parents, but there are some teens capable of being good parents.
My heroes are: My mother and Lydia Patton, senior adviser at Norcom High.
I am unique because: I'm the first child of the three kids my mother has had to go to college. And I'm the only senior at Norcom who wants to go into the field of mortuary science.
What makes me mad: Gossip. When peers go by hearsay instead of getting information straight from the person.
If a film were made about my life, the dramatic turning point would be when I got accepted to CCMS. I was discouraged at first because I was getting negative influences from people in the field. I was told that women in this field are scarce. And most people who enter it have family connections in the field.
If I was a guest on a talk show, the subject would be: AIDS disclosure.
My life summed up in three words: Determination, focus, energy. MEMO: Sommer Riddick is a senior at I.C. Norcom High School.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Kimberly Hasty has been accepted at four schools to study mortuary
science.
by CNB