THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 17, 1995 TAG: 9508160165
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THUMBS UP
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
LAST FEBRUARY, Melanie Ann Meadows decided she was ready to leave her high school days behind her.
But Melanie - then a 17-year-old junior and honor student at Nansemond River High School - had no intention of becoming a dropout.
While her friends were looking forward to a summer vacation, Melanie planned to attend summer school at Lakeland High School, earn enough credits to graduate and enter Liberty University in Lynchburg this month. She intends to double-major in English and Pre-Law.
``My friends asked me why I was skipping my senior year,'' she said, ``but I was ready to get out of school and go to college. I've wanted to be a lawyer since I was 8.''
Melanie's parents, Kathy and Jimmy Meadows, supported her decision.
``Melanie and I are best friends,'' Kathy Meadows said. ``I'm going to miss her, but she has the maturity that maybe some 20-year-olds don't have. She has accomplished everything she wanted to at school, and I feel she'll blossom out at the university.''
On Aug. 11, Melanie donned her Nansemond River cap and gown and gold honors and Beta sash to receive her advanced studies diploma - the highest diploma a high school student can earn - in graduation ceremonies at Lakeland.
On Aug. 14, she left for Liberty University.
Originally, Melanie had planned to attend a local college. She changed her mind when David Lawson, youth pastor at Nansemond River Baptist Church and an alumnus of Liberty University, presented her with a $12,000 scholarship.
For the past three years, Melanie had filled her schedule with required classes, and although 23 credits are needed for graduation, she earned 24.
``I never took a study hall,'' she said, ``although I was a guidance aide in the guidance counselor's office.''
In order to prepare for college, Melanie had enrolled in honors classes in English, chemistry and advanced math. At the end of her junior year, only two courses in English and government stood between Melanie and her diploma. Achieving the credits in summer school, however, meant spending long days in the classroom.
School was in session from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Classes were 4 1/2 hours each with only two breaks and 30 minutes for lunch.
Although Melanie has been determined to excel, life has not been all work and no play. She was a cheerleader for 12 years - cheering for the Pop Warner Little League in Bennetts Creek at the age of 5. During her junior year, she was captain of the Lakeland cheerleaders.
Melanie has been a member of the National Beta Club and attended the National Beta Convention last year in Roanoke. She was secretary of the Co-ed Hi-Y, a member of Future Business Leaders of America, and a lobbyist and delegate at the Model General Assembly in Richmond. Nominated for Governors School, she was a four-year consecutive award-winner for ``Who's Who Among American High School Students.''
Melanie's older brother, Bryan, is a sophomore at Christopher Newport University.
Her hobbies are making desserts, playing softball, and spending time with her family. She is in charge of the nursery at Nansemond River Baptist Church.
After graduation from Liberty University, Melanie plans to enroll in law school or work as a paralegal to gain experience.
``I really like the proceedings of government, but I don't want to go into politics,'' she said. ``I want to be a criminal prosecutor. I see so much wrong, and there's so much I want to say.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Honor student Melanie Ann Meadows says she has wanted to be a lawyer
since she was 8.
by CNB