Ava Nicole Brookins

    During her collegiate years at Alcorn State University, Ava Nicole Brookins regularly donated blood – but not necessarily to save lives.

    “I saw it more as an opportunity to get a free T-shirt – I know, how shallow!,” said the 27-year-old Meridian native.

    But nowadays, Brookins takes donating blood more seriously – both as a donor and as a lab technician for United Blood Services (UBS), Gulf South Region, which processes blood and blood products.

    “After having worked at UBS for nearly a year, I have truly been able to see the importance of blood donation,” she said. “It is nice to know that if I give a donation of platelets, a red cell or a plasma, I could be saving up to three lives. Or, even two lives with the donation of a double red cell.”

    Brookins, whose work day begins at 2 a.m., said she “does a little bit of everything” – from paper work to heavy lifting.

    “As far as blood, welI put it in centrifuges, which spin at high speeds to separate red blood cells from the plasma to create two products. We even irradiate blood so that certain cells in the blood won’t interfere with the cells of the recipient,” she said.

    “We also do monthly quality checks by sending out blood samples for extra testing. Other than plasma and red blood cells, our other blood product is platelets; a lot of work goes into platelets. Plasma can have a shelf life of up to 10 years and blood cells several weeks, but currently platelets only have a shelf life of five days. We sample and process platelets on a daily basis,” she said.

    While she enjoys her job, Brookins said it can be daunting at times to know that someone’s life could be in your hands.

    “But there is also a good feeling in knowing that by doing my job correctly, I am probably helping to save a life,” she said.

    A graduate of Winter Haven High School in Winter Haven, Fla., Brookins received a bachelor of arts degree in English Literature from ASU. She returned to her hometown of Meridian after college to be closer to family and friends.

    “I have always been comfortable here,” she said, adding that she especially likes the changes she is seeing in Meridian.

    “I like that my hometown is starting to branch out and become a more diverse place; it should continue to do so,” she said. “I would like the city to become more youth-oriented and more education-minded, possibly creating programs to help focus our youth on positive avenues of existence. I am a constant visitor to my mother’s classroom and the classroom of my godmother. These kids believe in outdated stereotypes and are not exposed to culture and other things that would help them in life; it seems as if they are just there holding a place. I think the city should find more ways to shape the perceptions and minds of its inhabitants to keep Meridian heading towards a shining future.”

    A self-described dreamer, Brookins said she has two philosophies in life. First: If you have a question, ask it.

    “The answer can only ever be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in the end, and then you can move on and try again,” she said.

    And second: You get what you get and you can’t get upset.

    “So if you do nothing to change your situation, it’s going to reflect that,” she said, “and you won’t be able to get mad because you did nothing to change the situation.”

    An avid reader – her favorite authors include Jayne Castle, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Merxedes Lackey and J.K. Rowling – Brookins credits her interest to her late grandmother, Rebecca Brookins, who was a preschool teacher.

    “When I was about to go from kindergarten to first grade, I didn’t read really well and my teacher wanted to retain me. My grandma did not like this idea and so I was promoted to first grade. The summer in between, my grandma made me read every word, sign and book that came into my visual space. Because of my grandma’s dedication, I was one of the top first grade readers when school began,” she proudly notes.

    The daughter of Lisa Brookins Mercer of Meridian and Keith Hatchett of Yazoo, Brookins is big sister to Jordan Bryant and Phoebe Bryant. She is a member of West Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, where she serves as a sound tech with the Audio Ministry, is a member of the Youth Activities Committee, Young Matrons Ministry and church announcements staff.