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Published: Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 / Updated: Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 05:22 PM

Fort Mill senior Jordan Omorogieva has life in balance

Fort Mill -- 

Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a series documenting the lives of local high school seniors as they prepare for the next phase of their lives. Our intent is to profile as diverse a group of graduating seniors as possible. We are asking the subjects of each story to submit their own self-portrait photo.

For Jordan Omorogieva, her senior year at Fort Mill High School is all about achieving balance.

Originally from Philadelphia, Pa., Omorogieva is an aspiring graphic designer and art director. She has managed to focus on academics, while still finding the time to get field experience before graduation.

“I do lots of work with graphics,” said Omorogieva. “I’m in the National Technological Honors Society; that just means I’ve been recognized for my work in event planning and imaging. It’s pretty cool because I was nominated by a client, and now I’m getting recognized nationally for what I do.”

Omorogieva also works at a Harris Teeter in Fort Mill to help out her family with expenses.

“I like working because I’m a cashier and I get to interact and work with people, show off my personality skills,” Omorogieva said. “I also have to work to help at home, single mom and everything. I have to support myself and I like to help out others.”

She doesn’t let work and school get in the way of having fun, though, and she spends time with friends.

“I like to go to the movies and the mall, act up, normal teenage stuff,” she said. “I’m also in pageant at my school, and I’m even doing graphics work for it.”

On Jan. 24, Omorogieva won her high school pageant and was crowned Miss Fort Mill High 2013. “I’m so glad I had people rooting for me besides my mom,” she said via Twitter that night.

“Of course when I signed up for pageant, I had dreams every night of being crowned Miss FMHS 2013,” said Omorogieva. “On that night, my dream became a reality and I will never forget this wonderful journey that I am so blessed to be a part of!”

Before creating and marketing her own designs, she hopes to attend Yale University.

“I want to go to Yale and be an art director for ‘Teen Vogue’ or something,” she said. “I want to live in a city; urban life is the life for me.”

Like most of her peers, she is anxious about the future.

“I’m really family oriented, and a few women in my family can’t have children, so I really hope I have children. I want to settle down,” Omorogieva said. “I’m also scared I won’t get into the college of my dreams, or that I’ll have to struggle like my parents. They went through a lot to help me, and I wouldn’t be strong enough to go through that alone.”

High school was a pleasant surprise for Omorogieva, who sees it as a place to reach for her goals and learn to enjoy life.

“I thought I wouldn’t like it as much,” she said. “Even as a senior having senioritis, I love high school. I’m really thankful that I liked it.”

With her family, friends, and educators supporting her, Omorogieva has developed an acute sense of direction, and is confident about achieving her goals.

“I’m really driven. A perfect day for me would be to get up and be productive,” Omorogieva said. “It feels good to get to work and get closer to what I want to do.”