In her first term at college, Sacia Flowers learned an important thing.

“I learned I don’t want to be a math major,” said the 2008 graduate of Marysville Arts and Tech.

She also decided she wants a career that involves making a difference.

Flowers was the recipient of several scholarships when graduating high school, including $3,000 Governor Scholarship for up to five years, $1,000 Western Alumni Scholarship, $1,500 Western Foundation scholarship, $2,000 from Casey Foundation, a full tuition scholarship for $17,000, and $10,000 from Marysville Rotary (She’s planning to save that one for next year.)

She also won $10,000 from the Orphan Society of America.

Sacia was orphaned at age 13 and lived with her grandmother in Marysville since her mother died in a drug deal gone bad, she said. Her father died when she was 9 months old.

She said she’s not sure why she scored so many scholarships.

“I hear I am a good writer,” she said, adding that college has always been a goal of hers.

Sacia is third from the youngest among her seven siblings. Five of them were raised by her grandmother, Sharon Chism, of Marysville. She is the first to attend university, although two elder siblings did attend community college and another attended vocational school to become an electrician.

She attributes her success to the help she received from others.

Her Godmother, Maryann Boffey, was helping her look for grants and scholarships on-line and she noticed the Orphan Society of America’s scholarship.

“I wrote an essay and sent it in,” Flowers said. “Then Tera Banin called and told me I got $10,000 for next year.”

Flowers said she got a lot of support from her teachers.

“All the teachers were helpful and supportive throughout school but two teachers, especially, were there when I needed them.”

Her science teacher, Katherine Jordan, was very helpful, Flowers said, and Karen Berard was around when her mother died.

“She was there for me,” Flowers said.

Her art teacher, too, Michele Liburdy, was always there.

“I am a very self-reliant person,” Flowers said. “But it was good to have those people to talk to.”

She felt bad leaving home for college, but she wanted to set a good example for them.

“It’s different to be independent and on my own,” she said.

Now she is glad to have the chance to raise awareness about the orphan society.

She gets frustrated when she meets people who don’t appreciate their mothers.

“If people complain about their moms, I always remind them to appreciate what they have. But I realize that they have to find their own wisdom, I can’t tell them anything.”

Although Flowers hasn’t decided what she wants to do, she does like science and cultural studies.

“I know I want to help people. I want to change the world for the better. I am leaning toward a science major at the moment,” Flowers said.