Avery Smith poses for her senior picture at Point Park in Parkersburg.
(Photo Provided)
WILLIAMSTOWN — Avery Smith, who just graduated from Williamstown Middle/High School, excels in athletics, academics, and volunteering.
Smith has participated in various soccer activities since age 8. She started in a club team in Ohio and moved to a West Virginia Select team. The team won three state titles in its division. She played on Williamstown’s girls soccer team from ninth to eleventh grade. However, things changed for her senior year.
“Our women’s team didn’t have enough numbers to field a team, so we combined with the men’s team to form a co-ed team. I was one of the captains of that co-ed team,” she said.
Smith graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.7 grade point average from Williamstown on May 21. She said she challenged herself by taking every honors class offered at the school, along with college English, history, psychology, sociology and communications. She said the communications class was a pleasant surprise.
“I was most surprised by my communications course because I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. It taught me not to be scared to speak in public and how to properly format a speech,” she said.
Avery Smith was named as one of the captains to Williamstown’s co-ed soccer team.
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Smith said she also enjoyed math.
“I really love math of all types — I’ve had some great and inspiring math teachers at (Williamstown) including Mr. (Ronald) Lathey, Mr. (Dean) Banziger and Ms. (Kimberley) Lee,” she said
Smith is also an active volunteer in the community. She has worked at the historic Henderson Hall as a tour guide and a volunteer soccer coach with the West Central Soccer Association in Williamstown. This year she coached an age 10 and under team. However, one experience stands out above the rest.
“I also worked this year in the special education classroom at (Williamstown). This was probably the most rewarding experience I had in my high school career,” she said.
Smith plans to go to West Virginia University at Parkersburg and major in nursing in the fall.
Avery Smith goofs off with her students as a volunteer coach with West Central Soccer Association.
(Photo Provided)
“I will be pursuing nursing with the potential of later on going the Nurse Practitioner route,” she said.
Smith said nursing is an ideal career path for her due to her passion for helping others. Her younger sister, Lauren, is a type 1 diabetic and she wants to help people like her.
Smith’s ultimate goal is to become a traveling nurse and experience other parts of the United States.
“I’d like to work locally for a couple of years to get some experience under my belt, but then I would like to do some travel nursing and experience other parts of the country,” she said.
Avery Smith and Ruger Law were named Prom Queen and Prom King during Williamstown Middle/High School’s prom on April 29.
(Photo Provided)
Avery Smith graduated summa cum laude from Williamstown Middle/High School with a 4.7 grade point average on May 21.
(Photo Provided)
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