10-04-2025
Sarasota Student: 'You're going to be okay.'
It was immediately apparent why Nevaeh Turner chose the word "dedicated" to describe herself. She has a laser-sharp focus on whatever is in front of her – school, career, family – and refuses to let obstacles get in her way. This all-in attitude was a driving factor for Nevaeh to be selected as a North Port High School STRIVE nominee, an award given by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County to recognize local high school juniors and seniors who have faced obstacles and succeeded in overcoming their challenges.
Even though her parents aren't together, Nevaeh is surrounded by family. Mostly raised by her grandmother, she has three siblings on her dad's side and three siblings on her mom's side, of which she is the oldest. While not always perfect, it is the support of her family that has seen her through tough times.
'My freshman year, I remember going through a lot of social anxiety," said Nevaeh. "What got me through was the close relationships I had with friends and my family.'
The previous year, Nevaeh lost the most important person in her life to cancer – her oldest uncle. 'He was my best friend growing up,' she said. 'I was nine the first time he asked me, 'What do you want to do when you grow up?' I wanted to be a doctor or a nurse. My answer always changed whenever he asked me.'
Losing her beloved uncle at the age of 13 left Nevaeh confused and mad. 'I was angry at the world for a while,' she said. Everyone handles grief in their own way, and Nevaeh found that the act of playing helped her work through her feelings. 'I found peace and was the most okay when I was doing something fun, using my imagination, and not having to be in the real world.' Video games gave her an outlet to 'not have to think about it and have fun and pretend my problems didn't exist for a while.'
In the middle of eighth grade, Nevaeh felt ready to deal with reality and started to reconnect to her life. She saw her cousins going to homecoming dances and athletic games, and she wanted that for herself. She became excited about entering high school in the upcoming year and doing all the new things high school offers. It dawned on her that while her uncle wasn't with her physically, he wouldn't want her to hide away from the world and shelter herself. He'd want her to have fun. In her freshman year, when the anxiety crept in, she leaned on her family and friends. 'The close relationships I had with them and admitting I needed help got me through. I chose people wisely enough to know who I could talk to.' She found her safe place.
Today, Nevaeh is part of her school government association, receives guidance from a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and is on track to graduate a year early. For career advice, her mentor has picked up where her uncle left off, and her grandma is her 'new closest friend,' who makes sure she stays on top of her game and doesn't stray too far from her goals. 'She won't let me give up on myself,' Nevaeh said.
Her plan is to attend Florida Memorial University with the aspiration of becoming a kindergarten teacher. She believes kindergarten is when children truly begin developing an interest in school, and she wants to be there at the start of shaping their lives.
Focus and dedication have propelled Nevaeh toward the goals she wants to achieve, and with her attitude, there is no doubt she will accomplish all she sets out to do. She admitted that she was shocked and honored to be selected as a STRIVE recipient and hopes to encourage others who may be struggling to push through hard times.
To them, she says, 'Even if you feel like it's the end of the world and you've lost everything and you're at rock bottom, you're going to be okay. It's going to take a while, it's not fun, it's not pretty, but you're going to be okay.'
For over 35 years, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County ( has supported students and teachers with the belief that education transforms lives. Its mission is to enhance the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching, and inspire innovation in education, guided by strategic philanthropy.
Thanks to the H. Jack Hunkele Charitable Foundation and other generous donors, the Education Foundation, in partnership with Sarasota County Schools, highlights the resilience and grit of students across our county through the STRIVE Awards. Learn more about the STRIVE Awards and this year's remarkable recipients at
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Student: 'You're going to be okay.'
