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NATCHEZ — Lizzie Fife, an Adams County Christian School senior, is learning firsthand what it means to be a leader both in government and among her peers as student council president and the Secretary of State’s Student Ambassador.

Fife joined other student ambassadors throughout the state in the state capital in August to learn from Secretary of State Michael Watson, who she said spoke to the students like they were equals.

“He speaks to us is like we’re any other person,” she said. “From a man at his position, his level of power, to be able to relate to us on such a close level, I think, is very rare.”

Fife said her trip into the capital taught her all about different government offices, a general understanding of public policy, and “how much your vote truly does matter.”

But much of what she knows about being an effective leader comes from her high school experience, she said.

“AC has been a really amazing home to me and has given me so many opportunities,” she said. “After what I’ve learned from the school and from other opportunities, I feel led to give back to the school. Community service is a big thing for me, because the community has supported me through so much, through the Natchez Mayor’s Youth Council and opportunities like Student Council, Beta Club, National Art Honor Society and Cheer. Getting to give back has been really special to me.”

Fife cherishes the behind-the-scenes memories she has made creating memories for her classmates, such as planning and decorating for Homecoming and the school’s Thanksgiving canned food drive.

She said the qualities of a leader are “strong morals, somebody who knows how to unite people, and being a lifelong learner.”

“Leadership and continuing to learn go hand in hand,” she said. “I really believe that, because being around other people is where I learn the most — especially older people who have their life experiences to learn from.”

Fife said she plans to pursue a B.A. in Biology and a minor in English at the University of Mississippi. In her downtime, Fife said she enjoys writing and reading classic novels like The Great Gatsby.

“I’ve been thinking about doing medical research and then I want to publish journals,” Fife said.

Her desire to learn about unexplained diseases is inspired by her grandmother Nan, who has Parkinson’s disease, she said.

“I want to find out what the change is, and if there’s a way to reverse it,” Fife said.

Her role models, she said, definitely include her parents Rick and Amanda Fife.

“They’ve done such a good job of providing me with everything I need and trying to give me the best opportunities to be the best version of myself,” she said.