Meramec student continues journey at Meramec after attending more than 30 schools
By: DALILA KAHVEDZIC
Asst. Art & Life Editor
Lakita Wofford-Bates is a 22 year old student that has been studying education with a minor in music on STLCC-Meramec’s campus for six semesters and is currently on her seventh.
Although born in Sacramento, Calif., Bates has been to about 30 different schools in her lifetime thus far, and has moved around plenty since her dad was in the army.
Bates said they never stayed in the same spot. Having been around the United States to places such as Colorado and Georgia, Bates has also had the privilege to experience many foreign countries such as Spain, Africa and Syria.
“You should see all the stamps on my passport, it’s kind of crazy,” Bates said.
English is Bates’ first language, but she is fluent in Spanish and knows a little German and Chinese.
Having a brother that lives in Germany and a sister that lives in China, she has traveled to these countries as well.
“It is definitely hard to get to see them as often, but we Skype and FaceTime whenever we can,” Bates said.
Bates’ said her favorite place she has traveled to is Spain.
“The scenery is just so different from what I’m used to, I love the whole Spanish-type thing,” Bates said.
She said she plans on moving to Barcelona, Spain after she is done with college. She plans to teach music to elementary kids.
“I love kids, I work at a day care and I’ve grown attached to the children I work with,” Bates said.
Bates said Syria was one of the countries that stood out most to her.
“It’s really different, I’ve seen lots of crazy things go on. I’ve seen a building being blown up with people actually inside so it was pretty scary,” Bates said. “I’ve seen 9/11 videos but I’ve just seen that on TV so seeing it up close and personal was a different story. I try not to think about it so much, I try to block it from my memory.”
In the United States, Bates said Colorado was one of her favorites because the few months she stayed there she saw many different nationalities.
“My classes were so interracial and it’s totally different from here,” Bates said.
The best part about traveling for Bates is opening her eyes to different things , seeing new places and meeting new people, she said.
Bates said her favorite moment from a missions trip in Africa was when the little kids entertained her by singing and dancing since, she could not speak the language.
She said being an expectant mother with her fiancé and high school sweetheart of eight years makes it a little more difficult to travel, but it will be done, even if it is put on pause for a while.
