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B’Oriee Young’s mission is to spread as much positivity as possible, no easy feat during a global pandemic.

“I believe my greatest accomplishment is my ability to be able to stay positive,” she said. “Even through this pandemic, I believe we are going to get through this. I believe this is all going to turn around. I am very positive and hopeful for that.”
The Port Arthur native started cheerleading at 7 years old with that same mission in mind.

“The first reason I joined cheerleading is because I’m a happy person,” Young said. “I love pumping up the crowd and being able to make other people happy and cheerful. I love performing at the basketball and football games. I just love everything about it, especially cheering for Memorial High School.”

Young is captain of the cheerleading squad and captain of the volleyball team. Her journey on the court started in middle school.

“I had a feeling that I would enjoy (volleyball) and once I started playing I loved it,” she said. “It’s been my escape since.”

Young also participates in club volleyball.

“Joining (the club), it was the best choice I made in high school,” she said. “We are more than a team, we’re a family from ages 12 to 18. We travel everywhere together and developed a bond that’s more like sisterhood.”

Young is a part of many sisterhoods, including Ivy League and CavOILcade.

“Ivy League is an organization that helps young ladies,” she said. “We go to the nursing homes and feed the homeless in soup kitchens. We volunteer and we get scholarships, but being able to help those less fortunate than me, that’s my favorite part. Seeing someone smile, it warms my heart.”

The 17-year-old is in the top 25 percent of her class and a member of the Career and Technical Education Honor Society. She studies cosmetology in CATE.

“My education is very important to me,” Young said. “I’ve always been told that education is the one thing that can never be taken away from you. You can always learn more and you can never know too much.”

Maiya Turner, Young’s OnRamps course teacher, said it is Young’s unwavering positivity and work ethic that makes her special. OnRamps is a course through the University of Texas that allows student to earn college credit.

“The workload is a lot greater than what students are used to,” Turner said. “But B’Oriee jumped in and has been working very hard to meet deadlines and understand materials. I’ve watcher her work ethic grow from the beginning of the year to now.

“She deserves a spotlight because even after school was dismissed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, B’Oriee still logs into Zoom to make sure she gets everything done. I am confident that when she goes to college, she will do amazing things because she does amazing things now.”

Next fall, Young will be attending Lamar University to study social work.

“I always wanted to work with children,” she said. “I love children, but I decided I didn’t want to be a teacher because we can give them an education, but we have to save them first. There are so many children in abusive, toxic homes and I am ready to make a change for them.”

Young herself is the youngest of four, but the love and support her family shows her is a large part in her decision to help others.

“I come from a pretty big family that is full of love and support,” she said. “My mother has worked very hard to get me where I am today and that means something to me. There are a lot of people who don’t have that same support and I couldn’t imagine what that’s like. My family being there for me, cheering me on, that pushes me to do better.”

Young’s favorite quote is “If you’re going through hell, don’t stop.”