A South Pike High School junior recently won second place in the Boys and Girls Club of Mississippi Youth of the Year competition.
Precious Thompson, 17, of Osyka was nominated by Randy Tate, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Mississippi.
Thompson said she’s been a part of the club since she was 5.
“It’s always been a big part of my life. When I first started coming to the club, it was because my mom had to go to work,” she said. “Mr. Tate, he told me about the Youth of the Year. I guess he saw some leadership qualities in me, and he chose me.”
Thompson said she was honored to be chosen for the award. She went up against other nominees across the state.
“We had to write a three-part essay. The first one was my experience in the Boys and Girls Club, the second essay was my vision for America’s youth, and the third was an essay about my goals, my aspirations, where I see myself.”
Thompson said she was named among the top three contestants. “We went through an interview process, speech, and the judges went over everything we turned in,” she said. “Once the top three were chosen, we had to do it all over again.”
She said she was surprised to learn she won was runner-up.
“I was excited when they called my name because it was my first time at state,” she said.
Thompson won a $2,000 scholarship to the school of her choice. She said after high school she wants to attend Tougaloo College in Jackson and major in political science and minor in African-American studies.
Thompson said she wants to be a prosecutor. “I see a lot of things in our judicial system. It could be better,” Thompson said. She said she wants to be able to give back to her community.
“The biggest thing is to give back. I want other girls and boys to know that it’s not impossible.
“You have to know what you want and stick to your morals and integrity,” Thompson said. “What you stand for is what’s going to show up when you’re presented with your hardest challenge.”
She credits all of her success to God. “None of this would be possible without God. God is my rock. I couldn’t do any of this without Him.”
Thompson is active at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Osyka as well as her community and school. At South Pike, she is involved in the Future Business Leaders of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Beta Club, math and science team, cheerleading and bowling team. She’s also a member of 4-H.
Thompson has a 4.0 grade-point average and is dually enrolled at Southwest Mississippi Community College while at high school.
She said she hopes to complete Tougaloo in three years and go to law school.
She said her mom is her biggest inspiration.
“When I was little, she always told me to get an education. She told me an education is important.”
Thompson said she has a lot of dreams, and the only way to accomplish them is through an education.
