5 Young Women for 2024: Helping others paves early path to FAMU for Haniah Edwards

When Haniah Edwards begins classes at Florida A&M University in the fall, she’ll already know her way around campus, know the best places to park, and be a familiar face to some of her professors. She’s been taking classes on campus at Rickards High School as a high school senior, and will begin university studies at age 16.

Her academic success and commitment to community service are just two of the reasons why she is one of Tallahassee’s 5 Young Ladies to Watch.

She plans to be a surgeon, and starting college at 16 years old doesn’t worry her a bit. “I’m looking forward to it. The study of life in general is very interesting.”  In 2021, she was awarded the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Award of Excellence for her achievements in science. “I’ve always known I wanted to be in the medical field,” she says, “I can’t see myself doing anything else.”

Haniah has been a self-starter her entire life, easily following in the footsteps of her mother Talethia Edwards, who was recognized in 2019 as one of Tallahassee’s Women to Know.

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When craving a way to share her perspectives on life and create a platform for others, she founded the "Small Girl Big World" blog. When seeking a way to show confidence and encourage others, she created a positive T-shirt line and wore her designs to school.

She is always looking for new ways to help those around her, from managing her own academic tutoring business to creating the Mad Scientist STEM Camp to bridge the income gap in exposure to technology learning opportunities. “There was a young girl who really got into it, and said she wanted to be a scientist. That really motivated me to keep working on the camp.”

The camp connects children from low-income communities to STEM fields, inspiring them to explore and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Her passion for fostering educational opportunities for underserved youth highlights her dedication to making a positive impact on the community.

She treasures her time spent in the Youth Leadership Tallahassee Class 19, where she had the opportunity to meet local leaders, learn about different professional paths, and develop new skills. “Oh my goodness,”Haniah said. “I learned so much about Tallahassee, how to work with other people, and how to be a follower as well as a leader.”

Haniah is a proud member of the National Achievers Society, which recognizes academic success and cultural achievements. “It gives me an opportunity to do things like attend summits and learn more about Black history and why schools should teach Black American history. I appreciate opportunities like that.”

She admires other women who are stepping up as role models for young women, like Shaqualyn Shedrick, founder of SHE Academy. “She was a mentor for me during my volunteer time there,” Haniah said. “I’ve seen her have high standards and expectations, encouraging young women to be the best they can be, and also learn from others around her.”

The energy and enthusiasm that Haniah brings to Tallahassee is refreshing and fun. “I love that Tallahassee is becoming more walkable, it has a feeling like a big family,” she says. “There is a lot of hospitality here!”

As Haniah’s path continues, she is traveling with the confidence and curiosity of a community leader: welcoming others, listening to understand, and learning to grow. If your path crosses hers, let her inspire you!

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 5 Young Women for 2024: Haniah Edwards sets sights on medical career