- Tooele High student Zakiya Morrow prepares for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America nationals in July.
- Her family is raising funds, needing just under $1,000 for the Washington, D.C., trip.
- Zakiya aims to become a veterinarian, inspired by her love for animals.
TOOELE — A Tooele High School student is hoping to make a difference in her community and is preparing to travel to the nation's capital this summer for a national competition.
Zakiya Morrow is a sophomore and a member of the school's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America program and has a chance to compete at the national leadership conference in Washington, D.C., in July. Zakiya and her family have been doing everything they can to raise money for her to go.
She didn't know much about Family, Career and Community Leaders of America prior to her freshman year at Tooele High School, but a friend inspired her to check it out.
"She was like, 'Hey, I'm in this club — you should join it with me, we're doing fun activities,'" said Zakiya.
Zakiya's mother, Kosha Soderman, said she's proud of her daughter wanting to prepare for her future and prevailing through some of the struggles she's faced.
"I moved around a lot as a kid, but I am just happy to see that she can thrive in the things that she wants to do," Soderman said.
Zakiya put together a presentation in preparation for a mock job interview. She scored a bronze medal — the equivalent of third place — during local competitions in her first year with the club.
"So at the beginning of (this school year), she kind of went back and did a little editing and decided to present it again — and she got bronze for the first time again," Soderman said.
Zakiya had hoped to score higher in the previous competition, and the results almost kept her from going to regionals in March. But then something that could only be fate happened.
"I was also looking for a job about the time that she was going to state, and she got upset. I was like, 'Let's try this again. If I have to do job interviews, let's get you going on yours,'" Soderman recalled. "I don't know how she or I managed that, but she got a silver (medal), and I ended up with two jobs."
Zakiya has a love of animals and would someday like to become a veterinarian — a passion she discovered while their family was trying to find care for her dog and a family member's cat died due to an infection.
"We had to go out to Salt Lake because there were no vets in Tooele that were available," she said. The 15-year-old hopes to see more places that care for animals, especially in smaller communities.
With the chance to compete at nationals, Zakiya said it's another step in her education toward realizing her dream.
"For junior and senior year, my career path is lined up," she said.
Zakiya's family has started a fundraiser to come up with the remaining funds needed to attend nationals. They're a little under $1,000 away from their goal. She and a group of volunteers will make burritos on Saturday, with proceeds going toward the trip.
Her mother has set up a Venmo* account where people can place orders by Wednesday. But donations will still be accepted until they raise enough money.
They are also seeking sponsors for Zakiya; anyone interested can email Soderman at kosha.ls2792@gmail.com.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
