Tytianna Smith, a graduating senior from Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Alabama, has been accepted to 49 out of the 50 schools that she applied to and has received a total of $1.7 million in scholarship awards. Although she wasn’t accepted to her first choice, she believes that God is leading her to where she was meant to be, which she believes is Norfolk University.
Smith has been planning for her future ever since. Last year, she listed her goals, including “attending a high school that is currently on the falling school list,” “wanting to show that just because we attend a failing school, we are not failing students,” and “wanting to lift the standard.”
Recently, she received the good news—she was accepted into every school to which she applied. However, it was, except for one, Stanford University, which was her top choice at the time. What’s more, she was having a hard time choosing between predominantly white institutions and historically Black colleges and universities.
“I wanted both for different reasons but was unsure what was right for me,” she said.
But she decided to believe in the power of faith and her relationship with God. She said, “I follow God, & I don’t care what anyone says.”
“I thought he was leading me to Stanford, but I’m confident the final destination was Norfolk, and Stanford was just a part of the journey,” she added.
As a student, Tytianna had a 4.6 GPA and a 29 ACT score. As the Co-Drum Major this year, she helped the entire band prepare for five games without a band coach. She is also a co-founder of Warriors of Women, an army God placed in her heart that helps women defy the double standards of this world.
Moreover, in addition to being accepted to 49 schools, she received $1.7 million in scholarships from the schools to which she applied, as well as other outside scholarships.
