It would be fair to say that senior Ta’Kiya Moore has grown a bit reflective as she ventures through her last few months at The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.

For example, she thinks about how from her junior to senior year MSMS installed a lounge in Hooper that everyone loves, and how it has helped her grow closer relationships with her classmates. She also remembers how though she was a top student at Holmes County Central High School, coming to MSMS was a huge adjustment for her because she was not accustomed to what was happening inside the classroom. However, she quickly discovered that she was not alone.

“I soon realized I had all the resources I needed at my disposal to be successful, such as tutorials and peer tutors,” Moore says.

She also appreciates all of her opportunities to perform community service while at MSMS. As a junior, she was a camp counselor at MSMS Summer Enrichment Camp: “That was an exciting and fun experience.” This year, she tutored, rang the bell for Salvation Army and volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club.

Moore now has her sights set on graduation in May.  “I am very excited for graduation. My family will be throwing me a party afterwards, and I hope to spend time with some of my classmates as well,” she says.

However, she knows that graduation is just part of the journey, as she has applied to many colleges. She hasn’t decided which one she will attend, but she hopes to know soon. Some of the colleges she’s been accepted to are The University of Mississippi, Spelman College, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of New Hampshire.

She’s interested in majoring in neuroscience but may change to chemistry. She would also like to minor in Spanish. She’s already been admitted to many college honor programs. She is also in the process of applying to private scholarships, which she hopes to receive.

Her life is certainly moving forward, but she thinks about her last two years as a time of great growth.

“I don’t believe you really ever leave MSMS. Having said that, I will be glad to venture off to new things. As Mr. Yarborough says, ‘This place isn’t about this place; it’s about the next place you go to after leaving.’ I will be sad, as leaving means I won’t be able to see my classmates, basically my family, every day, but we’re growing and things change.”