For much of his high school career, Hopkinsville High School graduate LaMareon Jeffers wasn’t entirely sure what came next.
Like many approaching graduation, he knew another school year would arrive, another grade level would come and eventually a diploma would be handed to him. What he didn’t know was what direction his life would take after that.
That uncertainty began to change this year through an internship with the Christian County Chamber of Commerce.
“Before I came to the Chamber of Commerce, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life,” Jeffers said. “I was kind of just living day by day. I didn’t know where I wanted to go, if I wanted to go to college or just go into the workforce. I really didn’t have much direction.”
Now, Jeffers has a plan. He will attend the University of Louisville this fall and pursue a degree in business and accounting, a path he credits in large part to the opportunities and mentorship he received through the Chamber.
The transformation did not happen overnight.
Jeffers said the internship challenged him to step outside his comfort zone and become more involved both in school and throughout the community.
“After I joined the Chamber, I started to do a whole bunch of new things that I never thought I would do,” he said. “I started joining more clubs. I started to get more active within the community and also in my school.”
The internship placed Jeffers in professional settings where he interacted with business leaders, community advocates and local decision-makers. Those experiences broadened his perspective and helped him envision possibilities for his future that he had never previously considered.
He believes many young people face the same uncertainty he once did.
“A lot of students don’t really know what’s the next step,” Jeffers said. “They just go day by day like I did. Not really having a foolproof plan.”
The Chamber internship, however, provided more than job experience. It offered mentorship, encouragement and confidence.
“The Chamber of Commerce really brought me so many opportunities to grow,” Jeffers said. “They put me in so many different rooms and positions that it changed me without even knowing.”
The growth became evident even to those closest to him.
Jeffers recalled a conversation with his mother earlier this year when she pointed out how much he had changed.
“I didn’t realize it,” he said. “I was still just thinking I was going day by day. But she saw all the new things I’d learned and the skills I would take with me.”
That experience reinforced his belief that communities must invest in young people if they want a strong future workforce. Jeffers reinforced that belief while speaking at the 137th Annual Chamber Dinner last week.
“After a while, the youth will be in your position,” Jeffers told the crowd. “The only way we will ensure that we have quality workers is if you take that chance on bringing them up, taking them on small job opportunities, whether it’s shadowing or just giving them simple advice.”
Jeffers used his time at the Chamber to learn not only about business but also professionalism, communication and leadership.
He praised Chamber staff members for helping shape his development throughout the year.
While his internship was helping shape his future, Jeffers also remained active in athletics during his senior year.
Competing for the Hopkinsville High School track and field team, Jeffers specialized in the 800-meter run. His season was highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the Class 2A Region 1 Championship, where he posted a personal-best time of 2:13.34. He also posted four top-10 finishes throughout the season in the event.
In addition to his individual events, Jeffers contributed on several relay teams throughout the season, helping the Tigers win the school’s first-ever region track championship in May.
As he prepares to leave Hopkinsville for college, Jeffers carries with him lessons learned from athletics, academics and a Chamber internship that helped provide clarity when he needed it most.
The biggest lesson was simple: sometimes all it takes is someone willing to invest in a young person’s potential.
And because of that investment, a student who once admitted he was simply living day by day now heads to college with a clear vision for what comes next.
Chick-fil-A ‘Triple A’ recognizes athletes for their academics, achievements, and athletics during their high school career. Athletes are selected through nominations from teachers, coaches, school officials, and YSE staff. You can submit a nomination for a Chick-fil-A ‘Triple-A’ to include academic and athletic achievements to scott@yoursportsedge.com.
