Macon High Schooler Daphne Mayville Stephens has defied the odds to become a standout student leader. Born with a disability and adopted from China, Daphne has not let her challenges define her.
Instead, she has embraced them, excelling in academics and extracurricular activities.
Daphne has ectrodactyly, a rare genetic condition. She was born with just two fingers on each hand, a difference that shaped her experience growing up.
Daphen says sometimes she feels like “the oddball out.”
“Growing up it’s been kind of weird because I’m so used to kids with five fingers and not many other kids with disabilities,” she said.
But Daphne never let that stop her. In ninth grade, she joined the yearbook committee because it sounded fun, and a friend encouraged her to try it.
“I kind of just joined because it sounds fun and like one of my friends did it, so it was really fun to do it with her for a few years,” Daphne said.
According to 11Alive.com, Daphne spent her freshman year training as an editor, then held that title for the next three years, managing photos, layout, and deadlines. She said it wasn’t always easy.
“It’s really hectic when doing it, so like everything that you feel while doing it, it kind of just like—you feel it then in the moment,” she said.
Next, Daphne plans to attend the University of North Georgia.
“I’ll be doing psychology and hopefully I’ll be minoring in Chinese, which I’m really excited about to get more into my culture and learn about it and hopefully take it on with me in the future,” she said.
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