Young inspiration

How many 10-year-olds do you know who spend time and energy on a cause they believe in? How many 10-year-olds do you know who have created their own business enterprise to support said cause?

Indeed, Karsyn Connell seems to be a wonderfully unusual kid.

Karsyn has spent hours and hours making her own jewelry and magnets out of white dominoes. She paints decorations on them and turns them into necklaces.

Karsyn's mother transports animals for the SEMO Animal Rescue Alliance in Lilbourn, Mo., in New Madrid County. The operation rescues cats and dogs, but has no shelter of its own. Volunteers rescue the animals from facilities across southern Missouri, sometimes when they are only days away from euthanization.

"At first, the goal was just $30 or $40, just a little something to help out," Karsyn said. "But so far I've raised about $200."

Karsyn sells her products at her grandmother's antique store, Somewhere in Time Antiques in Cape Girardeau.

Karsyn said during the summer she could make as many as 40 necklaces per day.

"I like having my own little business," she said. "I plan to keep doing it for a while."

What a remarkable young lady. We wish her success and hope she never loses her entrepreneurial and selfless spirit.