Whiz Kid Overcomes Shyness at the Community Action Center

Name: Shanrica Evans

Grade: Rising Senior

School: North Springs Charter High School

Accomplishment: Seventeen-year-old Shanrica Evans has spent her summer working as an intern at the Community Action Center.

Key to Awesomeness:

“My favorite part of being at the Community Action Center is seeing and talking to the clients. Hearing their stories helped me realize that everybody will need help at some point in their life,” Shanrica said “I’ve learned to be humble and thankful for what I have.”

During the five days a week that Shanrica spends at the nonprofit center, she signs in people for food and clothing assistance at the front desk; distributes items in the food pantry, and helps people find clothes in the thrift store.

The Community Action Center focuses on the prevention of homelessness and provides basic needs to individuals and families in the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area. Currently the center is to ensure all area students have what they need to return back to school.

Working at the Community Action Center has helped Shanrica break out of her shell.

“I am a really shy person, but I couldn't be shy when somebody is standing in front of me asking for help. That's the wrong time to be quiet, so I’ve learned to be more sociable,” she said.

In preparation for her senior year at North Springs Charter High School, Shanrica’s summer has included college visits.

“I want to go to Florida State University for film production,” she said.

“I chose film production because I've always loved to write...I always have a mini-movie in my head where I can mentally see exactly what I'm writing, so I figured film production would be my best creative outlet,” Shanrica added.

As a film student and member of the film club at North Springs, Shanrica has made about six films already.

She is also a member of the Think Pink and Invisible Children service clubs at North Springs.