A classmate once told A’Nasia Monford about an online article that identified a negative trend between people with apostrophes in their names and their ability to get jobs.

Personally, I love my apostrophe. I feel like my apostrophe makes me unique,” said Monford.

Monford, a 17-year-old junior at Greene County High School, has a perfect GPA and is tied for first in her class. She also is the student body vice president, financial director for her school’s ROTC, a member of the DECA business leadership organization, an usher at her church, a cheerleader, and a member of the track and field team, among other things.

Furthermore, she aspires to be a neurosurgeon.

Monford’s father, Rodricus Monford Sr., serves as Greensboro’s police captain. He is a fixture in the church choir at Hills Chapel Baptist Church. Monford serves there nearly every week as an usher. Meanwhile, her mother, Amy Monford, works as a case manager at a battered women’s shelter.

High school sweethearts, Rodricus Monford and Amy Monford, grew up as Greene County natives. Monford attends the very school where they met.

The oldest of four children, Monford’s support system is rooted within her family and is her primary driving force. The household does not tolerate B’s, she explained. Outside of her immediate family, Monford finds support within her tight-knit church community at her church. Whether it is a fundraiser for another organization or positive encouragement when someone doubts her abilities due to her small-town roots.

“It’s not about your name, or your apostrophe, or your quotation mark, or your question mark that you have in your name,” said Monford. “It’s about you who are.”

Victoria Halim is a senior majoring in journalism in Grady College Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.