By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
One Feather Staff
Two ambitious and studious young women have been named the top students in the Cherokee High School Class of 2022. Abigail Taylor and Aria Foerst have been named the valedictorian and salutatorian respectively.
Aria Foerst, left, and Abigail Taylor were named the Cherokee High School Class of 2022 salutatorian and valedictorian respectively. The two are shown outside of the school on the morning of Tuesday, May 24. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
“It’s nice,” said Taylor. “I’ve worked on it since I was a freshman. I’ve always wanted to be valedictorian. When they announced it, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I can’t believe I did it.’ Of course, I ran to my mom and my dad and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I did it!’ They, of course, were proud of me. It was really nice.”
Foerst said, “At first, I was shocked. I actually cried just because of how big of a success that was and that I never thought that I would make it to salutatorian. It was just a shock for sure. All my hard work had finally paid off and I was getting things done and showing the people that didn’t believe in me. There’s always a thought of my grandpa running through my mind and how proud he would have been. It’s an honor, it really is, to be salutatorian at Cherokee High School.”
Taylor will attend Wake Forest University this fall. “I’m thinking about anthropology. But, I’m still looking for that perfect job for me. I do like to help people, but I also like to be interacting with people. I’m looking forward to going out to Wake Forest and maybe exploring some different aspects of life and maybe finding something that is for me then I’ll go from there.”
She’s looking forward to living alone and having independence. “It will be nice to venture out on my own and explore things on my own and find my own identity that’s away from Cherokee so I can find out what’s out there.”
Foerst will attend Ferrum University this fall where she will study nursing, and she has already signed a letter of intent to play volleyball there. “I picked a smaller DIII because the school is smaller so it’s more like home. It’s more of a family united community. I’ve already met with most of the team and I’m actually staying with my setter so that’s pretty cool. That’s a great thing. I think there is going to be a lot more competition, which I always love a good competition. It makes me work harder and realize what I need to work on in myself, for sure. It’s just the thought of getting to go to college to play volleyball that really made it more important to me and made it more special.”
Abigail Taylor, CHS Class of 2022 valedictorian, is shown in the role of Papa Ge in the Cherokee Musical Theatre performance of “Once on This Island” at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center on the evening of May 12.
She has a jump start in the nursing field as she will complete her CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification on Friday, May 27.
Both young women were incredibly active in activities while at Cherokee High School and found that striking a balance was crucial.
“I think it’s finding a balance in your life between your academic life and your social life,” said Taylor. “You don’t want to focus too much on one thing and then it overcomes your whole family. I’ve been on both aspects of focusing too much on academics and having no friends and focusing too much on my social life and putting all my homework to the side and it builds up.”
Aria Foerst, CHS Class of 2022 salutatorian, serves during a volleyball match against Swain Co. at the Charles George Memorial Arena on Oct. 14, 2021. She will continue her volleyball career at Ferrum College next year.
When asked who they would like to thank for helping them succeed, Taylor noted, “Definitely my mom and my dad. I know it sounds cheesy, but I wouldn’t be here without them. They’ve really helped me, pushed me, and encouraged me to continuing and just working hard, and for them being good friends to me. I know, number one, parents come first, but they’re also my friends. And my sister – she deals with me a lot going on long rants.”
Foerst commented, “My mom for always supporting me and being the amazing mother she is. She’s always taken care of me even when it wasn’t easy for her. My sister, who has always been there for me. She is like a second mother to me and so is my grandma. They both have been a very big support system, especially my sister. She was valedictorian and also played volleyball. She was a really big support system. My grandma for always taking care of me throughout the years. And, my grandpa, most of all, because he was such an honorable man and I just want to live up to what he was, which will never happen. He was so amazing. The rest of my family for always supporting me. All of my teachers – Mindy Ledford, Ms. Sutton, Ms. Caldwell, Pam Bryant, all my coaches, Mike Winchester – he was a big support.”
