The top seven academically achieving students in West Nassau High School’s Class of 2018 all held grade point averages well above 4.0.
West Nassau High School’s Class of 2018 graduated 261 seniors recently, including Raymond Pace, Ashley Barber, Kelli Braddock, Hailey Copher, Mykenzie Francis, Angelita Kaylor and Autumn Perret.
The seniors answered several survey questions related to their school careers, the challenges they faced and their future plans. The seniors also expressed their opinions on local and national matters.
When it comes to motivation to reach scholastic goals, class salutatorian Barber said that her parents influenced her in a positive way.
“My parents always encouraged me and saw my potential even when I couldn’t,” she said. “Ever since I could remember, they motivated me to overcome any struggle. My advice would be to find someone in your life who supports you like that.”
She plans to study nursing at Santa Fe Community College. Barber also aims to earn a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida.
Braddock would also like to become a nurse, studying at Florida State College at Jacksonville before transferring to a different college in another state.
She noted that, “Most of my academic success is because I enjoyed school as a child.”
She also attributes her family for helping her “to reach high goals within my schooling years.”
Francis’ mother inspired her to attain excellence.
“My mom always expected much from me and pushed me to do my best,” she noted.
She is undecided on a major, but plans to attend FSCJ.
“I see myself pursuing Jesus whole-heartedly and following wherever he leads,” she said.
The seniors viewed their academic challenges differently.
Francis found high school academics fairly easy while others learned to find balance.
“My biggest challenge in high school was maintaining an A average while also juggling a social life,” Copher said. “There were some nights where I stayed up late doing homework because I decided to attend a football or basketball game. However, I don’t regret any decision I made because I was able to create memories with my friends and achieve my goals.”
She plans to study nursing at Jacksonville University.
“In 10 years see myself working in a hospital with my RN license, preferably as a labor and delivery nurse,” Copher said.
Pace overcame challenges as he juggled multiple commitments.
“For me, time management during football season was most difficult,” he said. “Balancing sports, academics, church and life in general took a great amount of energy, but I managed to do so, although I did lose some sleep.”
The National Merit Scholarship winner and class valedictorian plans to major in chemical engineering at the University of Florida.
Like Pace, Perret strived for balance.
“My biggest challenge in high school was learning how to manage my time wisely. Trying to manage rigorous courses and keeping a social life at the same time can get stressful,” she said. “Adding a job on top of that my senior year made it worse. However, I have learned to keep a planner and organize accordingly.”
She plans to become a physician. She will also attend UF.
When viewing success, Pace measures it by the way his life’s contributions affect others.
“While I do believe that achieving goals is one form of success, a more important measurement of success is positive impacts made on others,” he said. “By utilizing talents and strengths to help others progress and achieve goals, we become more successful.”
Kaylor quantifies success in various ways.
“I don’t measure success by money, but rather by happiness and stability,” she said.
Kaylor plans to attend FSCJ to earn an associate degree before completing her education at UF.
“In 10 years I plan to be finishing up a residency somewhere to become a pediatric doctor. I also hope to have or work toward having a home to call my own to branch out,” she said.
Kaylor has a pulse on national concerns for her peers as to what does and doesn’t work when it comes to school safety.
“The U.S. obviously has a great educational system, but I think the children at school should be better protected and cared for, so that they can focus more on academics and less on safety concerns,” she said.
Locally, Francis would like to see those immersed in small town life expand their horizons.
“Callahan could benefit from the expansion of mindsets and the lessening of judgmental ideals,” she said.
Some of the seniors are mixed about where they want to live when their studies are completed.
Barber wants to travel and create new experiences. Braddock pictures herself as a traveling nurse, possibly living in Colorado or California. Pace would like to attain his doctorate and be employed with a company associated with energy or the food sector.
Copher enjoys the ties of her close-knit community.
“The best part about living in a small town is the close relationships formed throughout the whole town,” she said. “During football season, the whole town shuts down to cheer on the Warriors. This tight-knit community acts like one big family and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The worst part about growing up in a small city would be the drama, since everyone knows your business. However, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere other than Callahan.”
Perret plans to travel and see the world after college.
“Once finished, I intend to come back to be surrounded by my family and friends,” she said. “If I decide to start a family, I would like for them to be able to grow up in this community with big dreams like mine.”