Kayla Livesay

Name: Kayla Livesay

Parents: Rod and Sheila Livesay

GPA: 4.34

Class Rank: 1

Co-Curricular Activities: Drill team, FFA, National Honor Society, Theater, science club, studtn council.

Community Activities: Anson Community Church, S & Dance Studio, Van Buren Middle School science fair sponsor, Leo Club.

Future plans and goals: Attend Culver-Stockton College for a bachelor’s in agribusiness.

How will your high school experience help you in the coming years?

The lessons I learned from my teachers and mentors helped prepare me for a successful future in academics and my career. They encouraged me to be adventurous and taught me lessons I will apply in my everyday life. Knowing the support system I developed in high school still is behind me is a great feeling!

Fondest high school memory?

Getting to travel with my friends for various school activities. Spending several days together was always so fun. The opportunity to see Old Dominion at the National FFA Convention with my other chapter members still is one of my top high school experiences. I also got stranded in the Dallas Fort Worth airport for 18 hours, and while that wasn’t as fun, it was definitely memorable!

Which teachers have had the biggest impact on your education and why?

Amanda Schiller was a fundamental teacher in my life. While I first met her in middle school science, I continued to have her as a teacher throughout high school. She pushed me to think bigger and work harder to accomplish my goals. She was the first person to congratulate me on my accomplishments and helped me learn the most from my failures. I am so thankful Ms. Schiller was a part of my high school experience.

Who is your role model and how did they influence you?

My sister Karen is my biggest role model. Being older than me, I always looked up to her when I was younger. She has supported and encouraged me to be a better person. From her I have learned to approach my challenges with confidence and determination. She exemplifies working diligently and enthusiastically toward your goals. Modeling this behavior is something I work toward every day because I know it will make me not only more successful, but a better person.

What is special about your high school?

Coming from a rural community, our class sizes run small creating a close knit environment in our school. This also results in students being involved in several different activities. Classmates and teachers alike are supportive to the students and promote involvement in a variety of organizations. By having diverse participation, students leave high school as well rounded individuals.

If you could go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself?

Work hard in your first semesters and try new things! These two lessons were very important for me to learn and will apply to college as well. By putting forth your best effort at the beginning of high school, it helps to start a good grade-point average and allow time for dual enrollment classes. This is a great jump-start toward college. Additionally, taking different classes and trying new activities helped me to find my interests.