For Jazmyne Myers, the future was never some abstract hope. It was something she worked toward daily—on the field, in the classroom, and within the halls of Centralia High School, where she graduated in 2021. Now a registered nurse at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Jazmyne’s story is one of deep faith, focused ambition, and a full-circle love for the people and places that made her who she is.

At CHS, Jazmyne’s name became familiar for all the right reasons. She was a varsity athlete, earning all-conference and all-state honors in softball. She played basketball and even gave volleyball a try her freshman year. But athletics were just the beginning.

“I was part of so many things,” she says, “from student council—where I served as student body president—to National Honor Society, FCA, History Club, and more. FCA was big for me. I was a four-year captain there, and it meant a lot.”

In 2021, she was also elected May Fête Queen—an honor steeped in Centralia tradition. For Jazmyne, whose family didn’t attend Centralia schools, stepping into that moment meant something personal. “It really was my own story,” she says. “No family legacy at CHS. Just me building something from the ground up.”

And build she did.

After high school, Jazmyne enrolled at Kaskaskia College, where she earned her associate’s degree in nursing. Thanks to her involvement as a student ambassador—and the guidance of counselors like Becky Brooks—she graduated debt-free. It was the same counselor who helped her understand that staying home for school could still be a bold and smart move.

“That mindset was huge,” she says. “I didn’t follow some grand plan. I followed the path that was right for me—and that meant staying grounded and working hard.”

While at KC, Jazmyne continued her involvement with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and earned her CNA license through Centralia High School’s Health Occupations program. That early start proved pivotal. “It helped me work through nursing school and gave me real-world experience. That program made a real difference.”

After finishing her RN at KC, Jazmyne earned her BSN from McKendree University while already working full-time. Today, she’s a pediatric nurse at Cardinal Glennon—one of the region’s top children’s hospitals—where she cares for children and supports families during their most vulnerable moments.

“Not everyone gets a job this good right out of nursing school,” she says. “I was blessed. This job, this team, the families I work with—it’s all been such a gift.”

Though pediatric nursing wasn’t her original plan, she says it found her—and she’s grateful it did. “Kids are so resilient. And helping them heal, watching them go home healthy—that’s what keeps me going.”

She talks about the hard days, too—the emotional toll of working in high-stakes, high-empathy settings. But she handles it with grace and perspective. “Someone has to do this work,” she says. “And I’m grateful it’s me. Families remember how you treated them—how you made them feel seen. That stays with them. That’s what matters.”

Jazmyne plans to continue her education, either pursuing a master’s to become a nurse practitioner or stepping into a nurse educator role. She already precepts new nurses and finds joy in teaching. “I’ve always been a little bossy,” she jokes. “My mom calls me the mother hen. I like knowing what’s going on and making sure everyone’s taken care of.”

Faith plays a central role in her story, as does her family. Raised by a single mother alongside an older sister and younger brother, Jazmyne learned early what strength and sacrifice look like. “We didn’t always have much,” she says, “but my mom made sure we never went without. She put us first, always. She’s the model I follow.”

Now living in Edwardsville, Jazmyne still returns home often. She misses the people, the Friday night lights, the community spirit. “Centralia is a place I’d be proud to raise my own kids,” she says. “No place is perfect, but that town—it shaped me. And I’ll always be grateful for it.”

When asked what she’d say to her younger self, the answer comes quickly. “Breathe. The little things aren’t the end of the world. Big things are coming. Be ready.”

For Jazmyne Myers, those big things have already begun. And in every room she enters, every child she comforts, and every student she mentors, she brings a little piece of Centralia with her. Not as a badge, but as a bond—a reminder of where she started, and why it matters.