By Chelsea Banks

staff photographer

@chelsea_paige1

Coppell High School senior Lariette Leah Witham has a unique dream for her future. Her future is to help the youth of this generation in their spiritual lives. Witham’s dream is to go to Franciscan University, a Catholic school, in order to become a youth minister.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to go into a career that is for helping people, and after going through the amazing youth program at [St. Ann Catholic Parish], I wanted to be a part of it beyond high school,” Witham said.  “I also knew that I wanted to go out of state for college to go see a different part of the country, so Franciscan is a perfect match.”

A Franciscan alumnus influenced Witham to pursue her passion.

“All of my youth ministers have been an influence in my life but she say a big one has been, Joey Scancella,” Witham said. “He has helped me along my high school journey and has helped form me into a disciple of Jesus. He always knows the answers to my questions about faith and life in general. He’s a great listener as well, so that’s nice to have as a youth minister.”

Witham attends Pines Catholic Camp in Big Sandy, Texas  in the summer where many of the counselors are students at Franciscan.

“I look up to their holiness so much. Everyone I’ve met that goes to Franciscan is so genuinely kind,” Whitham said.

This experience may not be the typical college journey including sororities, tailgating, football games and other social aspects of college.

“I’m willing to sacrifice it to study what I’m passionate about,” Witham said.

Not only has Witham been a positive influence in church but also with her peers at CHS and in the Lariette program.

“Leah is a really sweet girl and she really lifts the team up with her positive attitude, even though it’s really early in the morning she can really brighten your day,” sophomore Lariette Ellie Manning said. “She always keeps the team going whenever we feel like we are slowing down or not really giving our all. She also is always there for anyone no matter the problem.”

The time in a high school students’ school life is full of exploring; it is times where you are discovering what you believe in and what you are passionate about in life.

Senior year is usually a defining moment when one learns their true calling, but Witham is spending her year doing what she lives for. She looks forward to the future and continues to be the bright light to all of her friends, students, teammates, and most of all, living through her strong Catholic faith.