NATCHEZ — Carleigh Sproulls, a junior at Natchez High School, recently learned how to light her own bright future and the rest of the world at the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Youth Leadership Program sponsored by Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association.

Sproulls and two of her classmates, Da’Nasia Caston and Desnick Bolden, went on a field trip to Macedonia Baptist Church in Brookhaven last week, where they studied both leadership and problem-solving skills as well as how electricity is generated and travels from power plants into peoples houses, Sproulls said.

At the program, more than 10 students statewide — who were each selected by their schools based on their class rank and academic involvement — competed to represent Mississippi on the National Youth Leadership Consulting Board and attend various meetings in Natchez, Jackson and Washington D.C.

“We learned about the distribution of power — how it is generated from the power plants to our homes,” Sproulls said. “We did different group activities, so we got to meet other people from different schools. We also did an interview process … and that is how they will choose who will be going on trips to Washington, D.C. and Jackson.”

Sproulls said in her interview, she was asked what technology fascinated her; she recalled her visits to Merit Health Natchez in her health studies courses and watching the doctors perform surgeries using machines, she said.

When she graduates, Sproulls said she hopes to attend a four-year university and study biology before going to medical school to become an obstetrics and gynecology doctor.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always known I wanted to be a doctor,” Sproulls said. “When I was in a health science class, we went to a clinical once a week at Natchez Merit Health to observe the different areas. When we went to the third floor where the OB-GYNs worked, I just loved it.”

Natchez High guidance counselor Iris Myles said Sproulls holds the highest rank in her class. Sproulls is also actively involved in the National Honor Society, Student Government Association, Health Occupation Students of America and the National Beta, math and KEY clubs, she said.

Sproulls also enjoys sports and is a pitcher on the NHS softball team, she said.

Sproulls said her biggest encouragement comes from her family.

She is the daughter of Toya Sproulls and Tony Heidelberg and is the granddaughter of Mary Sproulls and James White.