For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
ST. PETERSBURG — Khaihiqa Davidson is a 2016 Lakewood High School graduate who was an active participant in school functions, clubs and school athletics. She transferred to Lakewood from Jefferson High School in Tampa, where she excelled in the criminal law and justice program, ROTC, a myriad of AP courses and sports of all kinds.
The four-year journey through high school is not an easy task for any teenager; it comes with difficult courses, loads of homework and a constant fight against peer pressure. For this young lady, however, she had to overcome a totally different challenge—the loss of a parent.
On February 13, 2015, during Khaihiqa’s junior year of high school, her father passed away from pancreatic cancer, which was the most devastating event in her life. From then on, she felt like giving up. She felt as if she had nothing left to live for, and slowly started giving into peer pressure.
Soon realizing that’s not the way to go, she prayed, asking God to guide her in the right direction and give her the motivation to finish school.
The right direction is where she headed. She began to focus in and out of the classroom.
Khaihiqa made the honor roll consistently from her junior to senior year. Not only did she succeed academically, but also on the basketball court and on the track field. She was a two-year starter for the Lady Spartans’ basketball team, who dominated the boards, as well as a sprinter and thrower for the Spartan track and field team.
She even made back-to-back appearances to districts and regionals.
Aside from the athletics, there were other highlights of Khaihiqa’s high school ventures, especially in her senior year. Homecoming is the most exciting part of football season for many students because they get to dress up for spirit week.
But for Khaihiqa, it was especially exciting because she was crowned the 2015 Homecoming Queen.
For every achievement, sporting event or anything she was involved in, her mother Gwen was right there.
“She’s my biggest fan, my number one supporter. Everything I do is for her,” said Khaihiqa. “Raised in a single-parent household from middle school on, I have gained wisdom and learned independence from my mother.”
As far as community affiliations, Khaihiqa has volunteered at Metropolitan Ministries and the Salvation Army in an effort to give back.
“It feels good to put a smile on someone else’s face and to help those who don’t have as much as you’re blessed with,” she said.
In the fall, Khaihiqa will be attending Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Va., on a full academic scholarship. While there, she will play for the Fighting Squirrels Women’s basketball team, participate in ROTC and major in criminal justice.
In 10 years, Khaihiqa believes that she will be the top African-American female corporate lawyer.
Through all of her struggles, Khaihiqa’s faith remains strong. With her number one fan encouraging her, all she can do is win!
