Laiken Kinsey of North Florida Christian School is a 2017 Tallahassee Top High School Senior

Q&A with Laiken Kinsey of North Florida Christian School

In 2014, Laiken received the North Florida Christian School Talon Award — the second highest school award — due to her academic achievement, community service and leadership excellence. Since then, Laiken has involved herself with Key Club, the National Honor Society, student government, yearbook and more. One fun fact about Laiken is that she won an essay contest and received a full scholarship and membership in the Apalachee Beekeepers Association after setting up and maintaining a beehive. 

Tallahassee Magazine: Whom do you most admire, and why?

Laiken Kinsey: I could say someone like Jane Seymour, for her superb work with the Open Hearts Foundation, or Ronald Reagan, for his impeccable leadership abilities — but I do not personally know them. For me, though, the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” has been very true for me, as there are several people that come to mind. I admire my parents for the way they raised me and taught me to think about the world and treat the people in it. They have taught me to love learning and reading and to work hard. Also, I have been at North Florida Christian School since kindergarten, so I look up to my NFC family, too. My teachers love their jobs; but more importantly, they care about our hearts. My English teacher and FCA faculty advisor, Mrs. Diekman, gives her all and then some when it comes to her work. She does everything she can for her students, including preparing them for college and putting in more hours than we do. She takes the time to check up on us and talk with us if we need it, and she is a wonderful role model for us ladies. If I ever need advice while I am at school, I know that I can talk to her. 

Tallahassee Magazine: What are your post-graduation plans?

Laiken Kinsey: After graduation, I hope to attend the University of Florida, be in a Christian club like FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and one day earn my master’s degree. I have not decided on a major yet, or really even a career. I try to expose myself to a lot of different things, but I have not found something that I would want to do for the rest of my life. Maybe that is because I have a wide variety of interests, such as literature, art, film, history, law, politics, earth science and agriculture. After participating in the Florida Youth Institute, I am considering attending the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UF, or maybe even the bee college. 

Tallahassee Magazine: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Laiken Kinsey:

In 10 years, I will be 27. I would like to be finished with my degrees and have a job that I enjoy. I think I will be successful in whatever I end up doing. I’d like to have an active job that includes more than one aspect of what I love. It has always been a dream of mine to be well traveled and see the landscapes of the world. So, I hope that by the time I am 27, I will have accomplished at least that. 

This is one of nine interviews with 2017 graduates of Tallahassee high schools, each of whom displays stellar skills and a promising future.