My Dream: Hanging tight at 10

[Times photo: Chris Zuppa] Shabreal Lasseter, 10, keeps a firm grip on her 6-month-old neighbor, Marvin Mitchell III, while Marvin’s mother, Erica Kidd adjusts his hat.

By Interview by CHRIS ZUPPA
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 24, 2002

At 10, Shabreal Lasseter has already learned that life is full of ups and downs.

When I grow up I want to be a lawyer and a model, and I want to have a good life. I want to have a good life so I won't be confused and have bad relationships and stuff, like be mad, angry and upset. I want my temper to be regular.

When I grow up I want to be able to look back at my kid life in good ways and think about the good times, the flips and the turns, because when I am having a rough time, I want to think about something good.

Math is my favorite subject because I like to do addition and subtraction. I like to figure out birthdays by adding and subtracting from your age, and I also like multiplication and division. I made (straight) A's three times. I was on the Principal's List. I've made honor roll my entire life except kindergarten.

Growing up in St. Petersburg, I've had my ups and downs, like girls being hateful and starting a bunch of stuff and trying to get you in trouble. And they try to use you as a friend, and they only come to you when you have things they like.

Sometimes I want to get away, but sometimes I can't. But of all the places I've been to, which is about five or six places in the world, I like St. Petersburg the best. I've been to Sanford, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Georgia.

My family is important to me because when I have ups and downs they are here to help me, and whenever I need something they are there for me. When I need to talk about something, my auntie, my mama, and my great auntie, I go to them and they help me.

My mama calls me Shaba because it is just a short name. When I was born, my mama couldn't think of a name at first, so she came up with Shabreal. Then, she would talk really fast and get confused, so she shortened it up to Shaba.

My favorite memory was when I was a little baby, when I got caught stealing. It was watermelon. I love watermelon. It was my favorite thing in the whole world to eat, so I would sneak down at night to the refrigerator and steal some watermelon. There's a picture of me sneaking into the refrigerator getting some watermelon.

A tough time was when my Uncle Poppa passed. They called him Poppa, but his real name is Antario Oliver. He was my mom's brother. He was going through a very bad situation, and he got shot. I was 5 (when he died). My favorite memory is when I used to play games and stuff with him and ride with him to his girlfriend's house.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.