Photographer: Charlene Geffrard
Charlene Geffrard Photography
Tampa, FL
Vendors used: Maresha Thomas of Styles by Resha
Makeup: The Artistry Of makeup
Determined, sunshine, grateful A Snap Shot of Jasimine Preston
Jasimine Preston is a high school senior who has made every moment count even during her most trying times. Born into a world where she was likely to be a statistic, she sure has been able to beat the odds. By the time she was six years old she realized that she was likely to rely on herself to get through life as she came from a single mother household where the mother spent a majority of her time working. She remembers her first day of kindergarten and having no one to see her off to school as she got on the school bus scared as she was, her only option was to go to school. The motivation to get to school every day started with knowing she would get to eat a meal that day because she never had food at home. The motivation to going to school every day was not only a means to eat but also a means to heat during the winter times and means to cool air during the spring time and a means to be around people because if anyone found out she was home alone she would get taken away from her mother. She says she has focused so hard on school that the time has passed so fast and now that she looks back she realizes “wow I accomplished a lot”.
The majority of her life has been through the mindset of “what can I do to be better tomorrow”. Jasimine has two other siblings who are near and dear to here. You will never see one without the other and there bond together has been a survival mechanism. Understanding that they have many limitations to even the things needed for survival such as food and clothing they always have the mindset to ration out so that everyone gets something. So determined the day she turned 14 she got her first job at McDonalds. She said her first paycheck went to buying food for her and her sisters. She was so excited that she could pick out food she wanted as she is used to only getting to what her mother could afford. She made sure her small paycheck (about $60) went along ways when it came to getting her and her sisters food and beverages to last the week. During the summer she saved up a portion of all her paychecks and when it came time to get schools items she surprised her family by purchasing her younger sisters schools supplies and a pair of shoes. She was so excited about taking some pressure from her mother who was struggling every day to provide the necessities.
Jasimine is all about bringing sunshine into what the world has to offer even on its darkest days. In a world way things may not always be the way they should, from the uncertainty of having food, clothing or shelter. The amazing thing about Jasimine is when you look at her you can’t see the struggles she has had in life. She has hid them well and for good reason as she has said numerous times “as long as she has a healthy life she has no struggle”. She says life is a gift that keeps giving every day you wake up, she makes sure that she makes it known that she appreciates the gift of life. With her mindset she is sure to be a successful young lady.

About the Photographer:
My name is Charlene Geffrard, I have been doing photography for about 2 years now. I’ve tried everything that you could possibly think of except pets lol, but seniors makes my heart sing. I have an amazing 3 year old who keeps me pushing.
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