Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction.
By Stacey A. Shannon—
SELMA, IN—School pride is important to Wapahani High School senior Kendyl Carpenter. In fact, as a member of student council throughout her high school career, Carpenter helped start a School Pride Committee during her sophomore year and was its chair last year.
“I try to help get people involved in school,” she said. “I just try to get people excited to come to school…and be involved in everyday things with other students.”
Carpenter said she noticed many students dreaded school and going to class. The School Pride Committee’s goal is to try and make coming to school a better experience for all students by sponsoring fun activities during the school day.
For Carpenter herself, school pride came from her involvement in a variety of activities. Along with being on student council, she’s also been in Riley Club to raise money for Riley Hospital for Children, National Honor Society, softball, Raiders Against Destructive Decisions (RADD), botany plant sales, academic teams and school yearbook.
Outside of school, Carpenter has spent time volunteering with her family at the Salvation Army and Second Harvest. This past summer, she participated in Serve Week through Union Chapel Ministries to work on projects throughout the community.
“It’s fun to be involved and improve the community the best I can,” Carpenter said.
While being involved in various activities, Carpenter has also worked hard to stay on top of academics. She’s learned to prioritize her time juggling schoolwork, activities and family.
“I do a pretty good job of making sure I do everything I think is important in my life and still spend time with the people I love,” she said.
But that doesn’t mean everything comes easily. For instance, late-night soccer matches have often meant she had to stay up even later to study for a test or get homework finished.
For the future, Carpenter hasn’t nailed down an exact plan just yet. She’s long thought of wildlife biology as being her future, but she also enjoys baking and cooking and is pondering a culinary route instead. She’ll finalize her college choice after she decides.
As she’s settling into her final year of high school, Carpenter said she’d encourage the students coming behind her to get involved, even if doing so causes some anxiety.
“Understand that other people feel the same way you do,” she said. “Other people are nervous. Other people are stressed out, too. Don’t let being scared or anxious…stop you from getting involved.”
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