Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Encouraging young women to “be their very best self,” Counselor Tomesha Hamilton hosted a Classy Ladies Luncheon for the Greenville High School (GHS) eleventh and twelfth grade girls in the GHS auditorium on Thurs. morning.

The theme of the event was, “A Confident Young Woman.” Girls were invited to attend a luncheon and hear from a motivational speaker. Hamilton said, “We planned this just to help encourage our students and build their self esteem so they can be self motivated.”

The guest speaker for the event was Lauren Bryan Smith. Smith said, “I am honored to speak to you today. I graduated in 2008 on this very stage. So, congratulations on making it this far.” Reminiscing over her time in school, Smith shared with the students her own experience of finding a career path after graduating from GHS in 2008.

Challenging the students, Smith posed the question, “I want to know who, what, and where you want to be in 10 years when you are asked to come back to this stage and speak?”

Telling her own story and roadblocks she encountered along the way, Smith stressed the importance of perseverance. Smith said, “Sometimes you have to take the less desirable route to achieve your ultimate goal. […] You need to think ahead and think long term but work each day one step at a time.”

Smith emphasized to the students the importance of education and planning ahead.

Smith said, “Your education and your confidence are two things that no one can take away from you.”

Smith returned to Greenville last summer and now serves the community as a nurse practitioner at Greenville Pediatrics. Grateful for her own education and the Greenville community, Smith added, “I am where I wanted to be and where I believe I am suppose to be and am enjoying it.”

Sponsors of the event were Rice Carter & West Funeral Home, Lillian Gardner, Ronesha Gardner, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, and Sergeant David Taylor. Hamilton said, “Special thanks goes to all of our sponsors of the event.”

After the luncheon yesterday, there are plans to make the luncheon an annual event. Hamilton said, “I think it was a success. Lauren did an awesome job of encouraging the young ladies. Talking to some of them today, I think they learned a lot. They were so excited about it. I think we will continue it in the future.”