[slideshow_deploy id=’60810′]Juggling swimming, Spanish Honor Society, Math Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Writing Center National Honor Society, and being the yearbook copy editor, Ameilia Cheatham still managed to keep a 4.0 unweighted and 5.0 weighted grade point average.
Cheatham took 12 AP courses, but cites AP Chemistry as her greatest struggle during high school, yet she said she doesn’t regret giving up social time with friends to obtain all A’s.
“It it was worth it because it helped me get into the college I wanted to go to,” Cheatham said.
Cheatham will attend Duke University in the fall, and major in Global Health and Public Policy. She hopes to influence policies regarding global health through studying public policy and global health. Eventually she plans on going to medical school.
“Duke was the best option overall. I love it a lot, especially [because of] how invested it is in ensuring its students have globally-rich opportunities,” Cheatham said.
Aside from her academic success, Cheatham has been successful in changing the world. Doing missionary work in Kenya a total of five times, Cheatham discovered her passion for serving people and educating others on global health issues.
“My experiences in Kenya taught me the importance of global health education. I have an interest in medicine because of my parents, and I think surgery is really cool. I want to work as a physician in impoverished areas globally,” Cheatham said.
Cheatham has gained experience preparing medical instruments abroad and plans on implementing this knowledge in the future.
“[Surgery] is exciting, and I am fascinated when I watch procedures in Africa,” Cheatham said.
Cheatham will continue her global service this summer when she visits Peru. She will be working with Samaritans Purse to distribute Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
“I look forward to seeing all the smiling faces when they get their gifts. I am also excited to see how well my Spanish holds up in real situations,” Cheatham.