NEDERLAND — Carlee Smith spent part of her Spring Beak helping others.

A Nederland High School senior, Smith is a junior volunteer with the Nederland Heritage Festival and spent her break answering phones, helping with passport photos and teaming up with a ‘fearless’ special needs child riding carnival rides.

“I was with Nico, he’s not four yet. We rode the kids’ Super Shot (called Drop N Twist),” Smith said adding that she was a bit afraid on the ride but not her partner. “He wasn’t scared of anything.”

Of all the activities associated with being a junior volunteer it was the special needs day that gave her the most pleasure.

“It doesn’t matter how bad a day I’m having or if I’m in a rut. You can’t help but feel good on the inside,” she said.

Academics are a big part of Smith’s life. She is enrolled in some advanced placement classes as well as calculus. She’s also a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, honors band, twirler and region 4 president of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA.

Carmen Pickard, senior counselor at Nederland High School, said Smith is a delightful young lady that has developed excellent leadership skills through her involvement in different organizations, clubs and community service during her high school career.

Smith plans to attend McNeese University where she will major in agricultural science with a concentration in veterinary science.

She admits she changed her major many times but there was a familiar theme, caring for others. She’s toyed with ideas such as becoming a marine biologist and working as a trainer at Sea World as well as being a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.

“I went to Austin and was able to shadow a vet,” she said, adding her father helped set up the meeting when she showed interest in veterinary medicine. “I was behind the scenes and got to see a surgery. It was awesome to watch.”

Once she completes her studies she plans to work with both house pets and live stock.

Smith is the daughter of Tommy Smith and Johnna Smith.

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