Success Stories

Although Kristyn’s parents met in Florida, they decided to move to Yankton, her father’s hometown. Kristyn grew up in Yankton and has always loved the small town welcoming vibe that Yankton has.

She told me that she enjoys shopping in downtown Yankton, and going to the Market At The Meridian on Saturday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Kristyn enjoys being an active member of the community. She said, “I am in NHS and I like to do anything from teen tech tutoring, and bingo night at the Majestic Bluffs to taking care of the kids at parent-teacher conferences.” Her true love for volunteering and making the community a better place shines through her actions.

When I asked Kristyn what she enjoyed most about her internship at Services Center Federal Credit Union she replied, “I like working with people and making connections with them.” She also expressed a deep passion for mathematics and accounting. This internship is the type of setting that she dreams of having in the future.

Kristyn believes Yankton is what got her to where she is today. The teachers at Yankton have helped her pave her way towards what she wants to achieve in life.

She told me, “The people who inspire me, are my teachers Mr. Simes and Mrs. Kindle because they always motivated me to pursue a career in mathematics.”

I also asked Kristyn who she considered her role model, she proudly answered, “My role model is my mom because she is a strong and empowering woman, and she taught us to go after our goals no matter what.”  

Kristyn told me she had seen how her mother had battled and dealt with different scenarios that life threw at her, and it was something that she admired deeply. Her mother sounds like a true warrior, who encouraged Kristyn to become who she is today.

Kristyn is taking four AP classes and is ambitious with a promising dedication to each class. Despite being a busy teen, she also enjoys cooking with her friends, being part of the Varsity Football Cheerleaders, and serving as the Vice President of the Student Council.

A bright future awaits Kristyn as she plans to study at SDSU and acquire a Mathematics Major and a Minor in Accounting. She aspires to become an actuary, someone who analyzes statistics and uses them to calculate insurance risks and premiums.

Kristyn’s perseverance, intellect, humility, and zeal for mathematics will surely enable her to reach her goals and beyond what she believes she can achieve.