By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

“You are equipped for success and destined for greatness.” 

Brittani McClain Breaux spoke those inspirational words and gave many other encouraging remarks as she spoke at Wednesday’s St. John the Baptist Parish’s annual Academic Lunch.

The lunch is held each year to honor the educational achievements of the parish’s various students of the year, teachers of the year, valedictorians and salutatorians from public and private schools.

St. John Parish Councilman At Large for Division A Lucien J. Gauff III said the luncheon is a great opportunity to acknowledge the academic side of the student’s lives, adding that their educational pursuits now build their foundation for the future.

Breaux, a product of the St. John Parish public school system, graduated with a double major in psychology and pre-medicine with double minors in chemistry and Spanish from Loyola University before graduating in May from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans as a Doctor of Medicine.

Breaux said a certain teacher, Gwenesta Fenroy at Garyville Magnet School, introduced her to thinking outside the box and challenged her to be different. 

“She cared about developing well-rounded students who would be successful in the world, not just the classroom,” Breaux said. 

After graduating from eighth grade as the valedictorian, Breaux said she made it a goal to graduate from high school as the valedictorian as well. 

As a freshman at East St. John High School, Breaux said she made herself  “A Valedictorian in the Making” binder filled with stories, pictures and letters to encourage herself in the pursuit of the academic title.

“Speak your future into existence and never let it go,” Breaux told the crowd.

Breaux was not disappointed, as her hard work and dedication to her schooling secured her a spot as the 2006 East St. John High School valedictorian. 

Breaux also told the luncheon crowd to “take inventory of positive influences around you.”

She told a story of a counselor at Loyola who tried to talk her into another career path, telling her becoming a doctor may be aiming too high.

After asking Breaux what her plan B was, Breaux confidently told the woman, “I don’t have a plan B.”

As it turns out, no plan B was needed. Breaux is, just as she always wanted to be, a doctor.

She said “it’s never too early to work hard, and never too late to make a difference” as she encouraged students to continue to pursue all of their educational dreams and told teachers their hard work in the classroom does not go unnoticed.

Breaux ended her speech by thanking Fenroy, who was in the crowd.

“Students, who will you thank?” Breaux said. “Teachers, who will thank you one day?” 

Parish President Natalie Robottom closed the program by telling the crowd “you will go as far as you take yourself.”

District 6 School Board member Keith Jones said it was “absolutely wonderful and motivational for young kids to see it is possible for you to achieve your dreams.”

Breaux is the daughter of Jean and Joe Stewart and the late Richard Green Jr. of LaPlace.

While in medical school, she was a member of various interest groups and held several leadership positions. She also participated in a medical mission trip to Guatemala, where she provided free medical services and medication to local residents without access to health care. 

She married Ray Breaux Jr. last month and will begin training at LSU Internal Medicine Residency program at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.