A ball of fire sat next to me as I interviewed Tanika Danner. With her beautiful brown skin and a bright smile, Tanika, in the course of my interview, hummed three different songs and swung in her chair continuously. “I like to follow my own beat and music.” Well, what is in your head right now? “Ciara, Like a Boy.” Then she laughed and fidgeted in her chair.

Tanika is determined to show the world who she is through her writing. “If you just look at me you can’t see who I am, but in my writing I can say this is Tanika; this is who I am.” Tanika loves a crowd. Her greatest inspiration is her father. Reverend Joseph Turner is a man who pushed Tanika in just about anything and everything. She is grateful.

Instead of dwelling in the past, Tanika learns from her mistakes and focuses on her future. Back in Cincinnati, she is the editor of her school’s newspaper. “I was the only junior to be editor and had the most stories out of all the juniors.” Tanika participates in the National Honor Society, with a 4.2 GPA. The girl stays busy, stays active, and stays determined. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My passion is writing because it makes me feel like I can do anything.” In the Dow Jones program, I watched Tanika participate in interviews and game stories about UK Swimming and Softball camp. She wrote about the press conference with UK Women’s Basketball coach Matthew Mitchell, and volunteered to write about Keeneland’s library. She was in her element, and she was happy to be there.

Where do you see yourself in 80 years? “I have traveled to almost every country. I married in Paris, my favorite city. I have five children, and twenty-five grandchildren. I am all-natural, no plastic surgery please.” Are you satisfied with your life? Did you interview the people you wanted to interview? Did you write the stories you wanted to write? “Oh, absolutely.”

Profile written by Olivia Packer