Senior Spotlight: Keyonah Elise Parker

Keyonah Parker always loved school. She loved it so much that she remembers crying when she had to miss a day for a doctor’s appointment.  

The Smith High School graduate said her teachers were always kind to her, showing care beyond just her academic performance. She recalls one time, in particular, when a teacher at Fairview Elementary went out of her way to show her compassion.  

Parker says her family was struggling at the time. Her mother had to rush her to school without being able to fix her hair properly. She’ll never forget how her fourth grade teacher, Tara Mosely, tried to help her with her hair. Even though Moseley, who is white, wasn’t sure how to style Black hair, she tried her best before asking another staff member to step in and help. Parker says this act of kindness made a lasting impression on her.  

“It was just a really sweet moment and from that time on, I was, like, 'I love her,’” Parker says.  

Even at that young age, Parker could see that Moseley was an exceptional teacher. 

“She selflessly gave her best every day she entered the classroom,” Parker recalls. “Even after the school day ended, she would organize field trips for us. She and her family gave us gifts and food at Christmas. She represents the type of educators we have in GCS.” 

Her early teachers influenced her so much that Parker once thought she might want to teach too. But after graduating on June 11, she plans to study nursing at Winston-Salem State University.  

She wants to study nursing because after witnessing her sister give birth to her niece seven years ago, she noticed a lack of African American doctors or midwives.  

“I was like, where’s the representation for my people? So it really inspired me to try to help out,” she says.   

Statistically, Black women in the U.S. experience significantly higher maternal mortality rates compared to white women, which is another factor in Parker’s career aspirations. She says that although she decided to pursue nursing instead of teaching, she’s learned things from her teachers that could help her as a nurse midwife. 

“I think being compassionate, understanding and considerate of everyone will help me, especially dealing with patients,” she says. “Women go through a lot and have a lot of emotions going through childbirth. I think me being a women will also help.” 

Parker says she chose Winston-Salem State because it’s an HBCU  and has a strong nursing program and supportive community. Parker, who was captain of the cheer team at Smith, was excited to learn that Winston-Salem State also has a team. 

She’s extremely proud of her accomplishments as a cheerleader. When she tried out for the varsity team in her freshman year, she lacked experience and confidence, but her cheer coaches told her they saw potential. Although she struggled, she didn’t give up, and the next year she was co-captain of the team. Parker says the experience helped her develop leadership skills, which boosted her confidence. The team also tries to serve the community by visiting local elementary schools and getting involved with the Bikes for Kids Foundation. But her favorite senior memory is when she got to cheer for the varsity boys basketball team when they won the state championship. 

“I’ll never forget it,” she says.  

Parker believes that they play a crucial role in supporting the team.  

“If the game is going down, we’re still cheering for them, no matter what,” she says. “This is our team, no matter if they’re losing or if they’re winning.” 

That unwavering support can be traced back to the support she’s always felt throughout her years as a GCS student. Knowing that she wasn’t alone helped get her through some of her toughest times. Her family has struggled financially and experienced setbacks because of it, but Parker remained resilient and optimistic. Her goals is to one day open her own practice so that she can help her family. She advises other students experiencing difficulties to focus on their future, as she has. 

“No matter what your home situation is, just do your best and don’t give up. At the end of the day, your education is important and whatever you’re going through right now is temporary,” she says.  

She says her teachers, coaches and counselors helped instill many of the values she has today.  

“Guilford County Schools has helped mold and shape me into the scholar and overall person that I am today. I am grateful for GCS,” she says.