WHO'S THAT GIRL ?
KHS is a busy place for one senior
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

Time is a commodity that no person can ever get back. So the question becomes: how do each of us take advantage of the time we have? One Kigore High School student appears to have found a way to make every minute count.

High school students are being required to take more and more subjects each year and these have to be balanced against extra-curricular activities.

Whitney Brown resolved to try new things, and in her four years at Kilgore High School has done just that.

Brown is rated number 17 academically - she is a member of the National Honor Society - in her senior class. By itself that's something to be proud of and a significant accomplishment.

But there's much more for Whitney.

Brown said she has competed in sports her entire time at KHS. "I have been playing volleyball for four years, softball for four years, soccer for two years and I made cheerleader my senior year," said Whitney.

For some people, sports and academics make for a busy schedule. Not for Whitney.

"During my four years at KHS I was a member of LaBamba, I am a member of Anchor Club and have been for two years, I am on the KYSSED (an anti-drug program) board and have been for two years also and I am on the Citizens Bank student advisory board," she said.

Whitney says she starts school at 7 a.m. with her advanced placement class - government - taught by Principal Bobby Wheeley, so she's up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready for school. "This class can count for college credit, it is a zero hour class and one class period counts for three days of class," said Whitney.

She also has seven other classes. "My senior year has been the hardest because of the difficulty of the classes I am taking," said Whitney.

One of the hard things about a schedule like this is when she must miss classes to go to outof town games. "People think we just get to miss class, but all the work we miss has to be made up. So when you get home late from a game, there is regular homework to do and then there is the classwork you have to make up, because if it is not in on time I get counted off for being late."

"What keeps me going is if I find something that sounds interesting, I just do it," said Whitney. "I love sports and everyone sport is different in some way. Sports are both physical and mental; soccer is a mental game for me, while volleyball is more of a team game,"

Whitney said in soccer she started out as a goalie, but now plays back row and forward, in softball she plays first base and in volleyball she play front row.

A typical week for Whitney right now is softball practice every day, soccer games two days a week plus practice, church on Wednesday nights at Highland Park Baptist Church plus a couple of hours of study time each night.

When not competing, Whitney is on the sidelines cheering as a member of the KHS cheerleader squad.

Mike Brown, Whitney's dad, said the family works around the kids' busy schedule. "Me and my wife, Jennifer, try and make all of the kids' games unless work prohibits it," said Mike.

Mike said Whitney has always been a hard worker and self-disciplined.

Jennifer said she and Mike are proud of Whitney and all of her accomplishments, "as we are of all of our daughters. Whitney has just been accepted to Texas A&M and will start college in the fall," said Jennifer. "She is very humble about all she does."

Whitney said right now she has not settled on a degree program at A&M, but academics are her only goal at this time. "Once I get settled in I might try out for intramural sports and I think I would like to join a sorority," said Whitney.

Mike said with all the bustle of high school life the family still manages to spend quality time at home. "We have lunch together and family dinners," said Mike.

With all Whitney does during the school year, summers should be a time to catch her breath... if not for a Mission trip to Honduras as part of the Pioneer Club at Highland Park Baptist Church. With others from her church, she went to Central America to spread the word of God to children of that area with Bible study. "It was a great time. I got to meet kids from all over the country. It was a little rough at time, but you just have to adjust," said Whitney.

Another trip Whitney managed to squeeze into her busy schedule was a cultural trip with EF Tours to Italy, Greece and Turkey. "That was a 10-day trip, up early to get on the bus and getting in late at night as we went from city to city," said Whitney.

With a schedule like Whitney's, having a job is just not part of the equation. "I do work at the country club as a lifeguard in the summer when I can," said Whitney.

That is just something the family accepts, said Jennifer. "She does so much and she still manages to help out around the house and even at my new business."

Whitney said high school has made her grow as a person. Her attitude leads her to try new things, such as modeling, and now she says a triathlon "would be fun."

Jennifer said her daughter's work ethic has been with her since she was three years old and if she found something she wanted to do, it got done.

On Saturday, Whitney competed in the Touch of Fame Fashion Show at KHS. She was selected to do so by members of her senior class.

"There have been other classes I wanted to take, but there was just not enough time in the day to do it," said Whitney. "Looking back on everything I've done here at KHS, I still wouldn't change a thing.

"I have made lots of friends in all of the activities I'm involved in, some of whom will be attending A&M with me in the fall," said Whitney. "But most of all I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support of my parents."