NC high school senior accepted into 17 colleges, offered $500K in scholarships
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Deciding where to attend college can be a difficult decision. For a North Carolina high school senior, the choice is especially tough.
That is because Saniya Lyles has so many options.
The Middle College at Bennett student has been accepted to 17 colleges and received more than $500,000 in scholarship offers, WFMY reported.
“I’m super excited,” Lyles told the television station. “I’m a tiny bit nervous, now that I guess, I’m preparing for college. That my experience at high school is wrapping up.”
Lyles graduated on Wednesday. She said she plans to attend Fayetteville State University.
“I plan on doing crime scene investigation, you know after I get my degree and I do have aspirations of eventually joining the military as well,” Lyles told WFMY.
While Lyles is proud of her achievement, it was a bittersweet moment when she accepted her diploma. Lyles’ mother died from a heart attack less than a year ago.
“So, it was just one of those things, you know,” Lyles told WFMY. “I was happy, but still in the back of my mind, I’m like, ‘Wow, I wish she could be here to see me do this and see me doing good.’”
Despite the family tragedy, Lyles remained focused and maintained a 4.5 grade-point average while completing her fifth college credit course, the television station reported.
“If anything, you know I just use it as encouragement,” Lyles said. “Everything I did before, I told myself I must do 10 times more, you know to make her proud.”
Lyles said she hopes her story will inspire others.
“My goal in life is just to make an impact and even after I pass, you know,” Lyles told WFMY. “I just want to leave the world better than when I came in.”
