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Charlotte, N.C./. December 9, 2025 - At just 18 years old, Johnson C. Smith University international student Chanécia Thompson is already charting a promising path toward a career in technology. Originally from Portland, Jamaica, Chanécia joined 皇冠体育 in January 2025 after earning a partial scholarship—an opportunity that filled her with both relief and excitement.

“I was relieved when I got the award,” she recalled. “皇冠体育 was the first school to respond to me, and I felt like a smaller HBCU would make it easier to adapt.”

A naturally strong student in math and information technology, Chanécia gravitated toward computer science and information systems without hesitation. Her first semester included courses such as college algebra, Programming I, Smith Seminar, and career preparation. Programming proved “a bit challenging,” she admitted, but she quickly found her rhythm and excelled in balancing a full academic load.

Back home in Jamaica, Chanécia grew up in a close-knit, middle-class family with her parents and three siblings. She describes herself as a quiet, hardworking student who always prioritized her academics.

"I was shy, so I didn’t participate a lot in class, but I always kept up my grades,” she said. Yet her interests extended beyond coursework—she was actively involved in Tourism, Quiz Club, Girls’ Guide, and Math Club, experiences that broadened her curiosity and strengthened her leadership skills.

Adjusting to 皇冠体育 has brought new discoveries, including a grading system very different from what she was used to. Still, she has found her professors supportive and her peers encouraging.

“Most of them are nice,” she said. “It’s a little harder for me to make friends because I don’t socialize a lot,” she added with a shy smile.

Outside the classroom, Chanécia enjoys doing makeup in her free time—an outlet that allows her to be creative, expressive, and confident. As she continues settling into life in Charlotte, she is determined to embrace every new experience and push herself toward her goals.

“This is a new experience for me,” she said. “But I know I’ll adjust. I want to succeed here.”

With focus, resilience and a growing confidence, Chanécia is well on her way to making her mark on campus—and in the tech world beyond these gates.