Student Highlight: Freshman Receives American Legion Certificate of School Award

While only at the start of her high school career, 14-year-old Summer Tallent is already receiving major accolades for both athletics and academics. The talented three-sport athlete was recently awarded with the American Legion Certificate of School Award, which is given to students that show exceptional qualities of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service necessary to the preservation and protection of the fundamental institutions of our government and the advancement of society. In addition to her natural role as a class leader in academics and athletics, the freshman is heavily active in student council.

You play hockey, soccer, and softball. How do you manage to balance sports, school work and other activities?

Managing sports and school for me at first was very difficult. Most of the time you have practice right after school or have a game late at night which makes it hard to study or even finish homework. Being a student athlete, I have learned to manage my time by starting homework right after school, so when I get home later that evening after a sport, I only have to finish up a little if any. When I entered high school, I was nervous about time management having to juggle more homework, longer practices, and still have time to hang out with friends.

What is your favorite subject?

My favorite subject in school would have to be Comp Intro to Art with Ms. Moore. Art gives me the ability to express myself in my own ways and also helps me to succeed in other classes. Art is something I’ve always been interested in and this year has made me like it even more. My father has always enjoyed art as he was voted “most artistic” in his graduating class at Winthrop High.

Do you have any career/college goals?

My career goal is to be a pediatrician and my college goal is to continue playing at least one of my favorite high school sports; hockey, soccer or softball. My preference for college is to stay somewhere on the east coast where I can still stay in close contact with my family.

Who is your role model?

I have many role models but the people who influence me the most are definitely my parents. They push me to be the best person I can possibly be whether that be in or outside of the classroom. Without them I would not be the person I am today. They have always supported my decisions in sports and school. They always put others before themselves including me and they do what’s best for me even if we don’t see eye to eye.