A YSL.com followup

Four years later, young musician heads to college

Ketsia Theodor was among the first kids featured on the Young Saint Louis.com website. At that time, her story told of her winning a 4-year music scholarship to a local private high school.

At that time, the 14-year-old native of Haiti was given an OPUS music scholarship to attend Thomas Jefferson School in south St. Louis. She had only been in the U.S. for only two years.

The OPUS scholarship was offered jointly by KFUO-Classic 99 radio station and Thomas Jefferson School. The small school is the only non-military boarding school in Missouri.

Ketsia would stay at the school five days a week and then with her parents on weekends.

Ketsia is now 18 and has been accepted at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. That is her choice from among six small Midwest liberal arts colleges to offer her a place in their freshman classes.

Although she's continued her piano lessons through high school, she isn't planning a musical career.

"I've considered my options and I think I'll do better in law," Ketsia said.

However, she's undecided on what branch of law she favors. But, she's not worried. "The law is very versatile; you can do so many different things with a law degree," she said.

Ketsia's life so far has a little magical feel to it.

While living in Haiti in the Caribbean, Ketsia decided she wanted to play the piano because one of her cousins did. She admits she had to nag her father and mother before they agreed she could have lessons.

Then, the family moved to St. Louis. Her local music teacher liked her talent. She told Ketsia about the new OPUS scholarship program. She auditioned and received the first scholarship that was awarded.

At Thomas Jefferson, she studied a wide range of courses and also participated in school activities. Besides her music, she played varsity soccer, some tennis and worked on the school newspaper.

When she sent out her inquiries about college, she focused mostly on small Midwest private schools.

Ketsia said most of the colleges asked her a standard question about what she thought she'd bring to their school. "I told them that with my religious and Haitian background, I could bring a lot to school discussions," she said.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Also, Ketsia is a third-generation member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

She also brings a knowledge of French and Creole languages along with English.

One thing about college in Minnesota is the question of the winter weather.

"I'm from Haiti where the weather is hot," she said. But, she and her family have lived in St. Louis for six years. "Last winter, I finally started to get used to winter," she said.

However, she knows that Minnesota winters are likely to be much colder. But, she's looking forward to the challenge of both the weather and college.