MacDill Youth of the Year believes perseverance was key to honor Published Aug. 9, 2012 By Nick Stubbs Thunderbolt Editor MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Stand outs among MacDill's youth community are not unusual, which makes choosing the MacDill Youth Center Youth of the Year that much harder. But the accomplishments, attitude and drive of 16-year-old Accasia Street made the job a lot easier for the judging panel this year, which recently chose the daughter of Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Lajonda Mack as the best of the best. Street took a break from activities at the Youth Center recently to talk about the honor. "I'm proud of the recognition," she said amidst the din of youthful activities reverberating through the building. "I was pretty excited when I got the news." Street received a plaque recognizing her at the MacDill Youth of the Year, and acceptance into the Air Force Student Council leadership. She also qualified to compete at the regional level, and though she was not selected, she is happy to be the stand out at the base level. She believes her "people skills" and ability to speak publicly contributed to her being chosen by judges, but also thinks her life experiences and perseverance may have played a role. Street's father passed away, as did her stepfather, leaving her and two sisters to be raised by her mother. It was difficult, said Street, who has been at MacDill for more than two years, but she always tried to maintain a positive outlook. The youth center and its staff have helped in that regard. "What inspired me about the youth center is the message that you may not be the best you can be now, but that you can get there in time," Street said, adding that she tries to pay that confidence forward by working to instill the same ethos in other youths at the center. "We are mutually inspired," she said. Street said in the short term she will focus on school, try to be a good example and hopes to one day become an anesthesiologist.