Karmen Miller

Tell us about your work.
I’m a full-time nanny for two children. I care for them, take them to school and to classes, and do lots of fun activities with them. I love it. They’ve become a part of my family.
Tell us about your family.
I live with my parents and my brother, Dilan, who is nine.
Tell us about a hobby you have.
Nannying takes up most of my time right now, so I don’t have a lot left over for hobbies. I do enjoy reading when I get the chance. I like real-life stories, like biographies or “based on a true story” books.
Describe one of the highlights of your life.
My graduation from high school was a big highlight for me because I had my whole family here, both my mom’s side and my dad’s side, and that doesn’t usually happen. After my ceremony we all had a little get-together. We went to my church, had lunch, opened gifts, and watched a slide show of my life that my dad made. It was really funny!
Describe one of the biggest surprises of your life.
One of the biggest surprises of my life was when my brother was born. He came when I was in third grade, and I was pretty shocked, because I didn’t think I was going to have any siblings. There are almost ten years between us in age. I was glad to have a brother, though, because he’s made it a lot less boring! He changed my life by helping me stay focused. Since he was born I’ve helped take care of him, and that’s taught me a lot.
Describe one of the tragedies/struggles of your life.
I have a 24-year-old aunt who is my best friend. She’s the youngest in her family and we grew up together. When she left for Haiti for an entire year to do missions, I had a really difficult time. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to talk to her for 13 months. I could Skype with her, but only rarely. She’s back now, and I’m really happy that she’s home. It was hard not being able to see her whenever I wanted to.
Describe a dream you have for your future.
Right now I’m working towards saving up for school. Eventually, of course, I want to be successful with a job that I enjoy. I’m thinking of being a teacher or a nurse, working with kids somehow. That’s what I’ve done forever and I don’t really know anything else. I definitely want to go to Piedmont first because it’s more affordable. Then I’ll transfer somewhere near home.
Describe a fear you have for your future.
Figuring out exactly what I want to do and actually getting there – like, figuring out what I want to do in school and actually paying for it. It’s unknown, so it’s scary, because I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. And I’m a planner. An over-planner.
Here’s your chance to sound off. If you could give one public service announcement/word of advice to the public at large, what would it be?
I’d have to say my pet peeve is smoking. For five years I babysat for three kids with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that causes the body to produce mucus that clogs the lungs. Smoking is dangerous for everyone, but second-hand smoke causes these kids so much trouble. When they go out in public and people are smoking, the kids have to work around those people, and it makes it so hard for them. They don’t have healthy lungs and the second-health smoke works against the health they do have.