Dedication to unique career paths
Watson makes plans to crack into design, styling career
Jordan DeMario, • June 11, 2024
The fashion industry is a very competitive field and includes arduous tasks such as working with some of the most talented people in the industry and fighting other up-and-coming designers and stylists for the best opportunity. Senior Danielle Watson dreams of this life.
After she graduates, Watson will be taking a gap year in hopes of earning enough money to pay for classes in order to get her certification for fashion styling.
“I’ve also looked at a few internship jobs I can get once I graduate that I plan to move forward with,” Watson said.
Her interest in fashion and styling stemmed all the way back in eighth grade.
“One of my friends mentioned going shopping to help me find ‘my style’ and ever since then I found my own fashion style, enjoyed it a whole bunch, and now I enjoy helping others find their style,” Watson said.
The desire to inspire others is what keeps Watson motivated to pursue her dreams.
“I’m excited to help others and just be surrounded by fashion in general because I find the way that there are so many different styles inspirational,” Watson said.
Although the excitement is overpowering, Watson still feels a lot of nerves about taking this step in her career.
“The competition and being able to make a living out of it [is what makes me the most nervous]… it’s all about finding the opportunity and gaining the experience as well as having the blessing of being granted such opportunities,” Watson said.
New tumbling commit faces challenges in her career
Simone Nihalani, • June 11, 2024
From tumbling to acrobatics and cheer, senior Ellie Funke is flipping through her journey and paving her way to four years of college. Funke’s journey will be continued at Wingate University’s division two program for acrobatics and tumbling.
Funke’s career in tumbling and acrobatics did not start in high school, rather, she started at a very young age and has continued on since.
“I have tumbled since I was four years old. I did gymnastics when I was four and then I just kept going,” Funke said.
Funke kept getting better at her tumbling skills in gymnastics and cheerleading. Funke has done Varsity Cheerleading for the past four years that she has been at Wando. As she moves into the collegiate side of her sport it comes more challenging tasks.
“I definitely think it is going to be more intense just because from watching other girls’ videos, it gets a lot more high level tumbling rather than just standing tucks and handsprings from cheer in high school,” Funke said.
Funke has had multiple dislocations of her shoulder and as that continued to be a problem, she ultimately decided to receive aid from a surgical procedure. Even though this sets her back, Funke is still able to cheer and practice as she usually does.
“I am going to miss the friends I made and the coaches,” Funke said. “I was hoping to go to college for my sport, but… I did not want to cheer in college, so when I found out about acrobatics, that is when I wanted to do it,” Funke said.
Senior pursues childhood passion of cooking
Lili Ambrose, • June 11, 2024
A sparked interest from a young age, senior Abigayle Harris transforms nostalgic memories into a career of culinary.
“When I was little, my grandma and dad would cook and I would join them. Then when I did the tour of Wando, I found out that they had a culinary class so I took that sophomore year,” Harris said.
Within the curriculum of culinary arts, Harris learned the beginning steps to taking care of and running a kitchen in a restaurant environment.
“It taught me the basics of how to hold a knife, all the safety precautions, everything like a fire extinguisher, to know how to do it,” Harris said.
Now, committed to Trident Technical College for culinary arts, Harris will be taking classes that will enhance her knowledge and experience in the world of culinary.
“You’re not going to learn more things or different things if you go to an out of state school, or just go to try the classes Trident offers. It’s culinary, which is… the basics… they also offer baking and pastry so you can be a baker or pastry chef,” Harris said. Out of all of the different directions in which culinary can go, Harris is excited for the experiences that will come along with it.
“I really want to do baking and pastry…I’m looking forward to being in a different environment,” Harris said.
Hayes commits to helping others with career
Noah Iverson, • June 11, 2024
The motivation to heal and help people, that is what has driven senior Kacey Hayes to where she is now. Hayes, a newly certified nurse assistant and aspiring pediatric nurse. She is now going to college to become a licensed nurse. Unlike other students who might have been set on their career for years, Hayes decided on pursuing her passion for nursing late in her high school career.
“My junior year is when I decided to go into nursing,” Hayes said, “I really like kids, that’s why I want to be a pediatric nurse… I really like helping people.”
Hayes had to train and prepare for becoming a nurse, which involved rigorous real-world experience.
“I volunteered at [Roper Saint Francis] last year to make sure it’s something I want to do,” Hayes said.
To further prepare, Hayes has taken an academic approach as well.
“I’ve been taking a lot of health science classes… I just finished my health science clinical class, and I’m a certified nurse assistant now,” Hayes said.
After taking these classes and going through the certification process, Hayes has committed to Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. Hayes gave advice for other students also planning on going into nursing.
“Don’t give up, it’s going to be [very] difficult… keep yourself motivated,” Hayes said.