Kyia on the way up

I just got back from Norphlet, where a signing assembly was held for senior Kyia Williams. Kyia signed to play basketball at Tyler Junior College.
After failing seventh grade, she's certainly come a long way in her career both on and off the court. It was an emotional day as Coaches Justin Welch and John Thompson talked about her growth. Thompson became overcome with those emotions as he read a paper Kyia wrote for one of his classes where she talked about how much she has changed.
It was a nice day.
It was even better when Tyler coach Trenia Jones addressed the Norphlet fans. She told Kyia's friends and family that she was going to kick her butt and ride her endlessly to make sure she got her degree and advanced on to a four-year school. She told the fans, if you want to help Kyia, when she calls up crying and wanting to come home, tell her to keep her butt in Tyler and finish what she started.
Kyia finished up the day by reading a statement thanking all of the people who helped her get to this moment.
It was a nice day.
I had just talked to Kyia a couple of weeks ago. But, when I spoke to her on Thursday, she seemed more mature, more composed, more thoughtful. She's come a long way since the seventh grade. I really believe she can go even farther in the next few years.