At left, Moody High School graduate Brittany Calhoun takes a minute to stop and smell the roses while sharing her plans for the future, which include nursing school. Still, she makes sure to enjoy the present in spite of the ambitious goals for her future.

By Buddy Roberts

sports@newsaegis.com

When Brittany Calhoun begins her freshman year at UAB in a few weeks, she’ll be using a number of scholarships to help defray expenses.

Ask her to list them, and it takes a while.  Almost as long as it takes her to count off the clubs and efforts she was involved with at Moody High School.  

Prior to taking some time off for summer fun before starting college, she recounted her high school success, outlined her career goals, and explained her philosophy of not taking life too seriously.

At MHS:  She was an ambassador for the Moody Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Student Council, FFA, Leo Club, Relay for Life, Sigma Delta Phi, Mu Alpha Theta, SCCLA, Pep Club and yearbook staff.

At UAB:  She plans to study nursing preparatory for becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist.  “I’m looking forward to getting my career started.  I know I’ll have to study hard to get into nursing school, but I’m also looking forward to meeting new people and getting involved in college clubs.  In high school, I was involved in everything, and I don’t want to get away from being involved in the community.”

Paying for college:  Calhoun received scholarships of $3,000 each from Walmart and St. Vincent’s Auxiliary, $750 from Friends of Moody, and $500 each from FFA Alumni, Veolia, the Student Council Association and the chamber’s Ambassadors program.

The best advice she ever received:  “Not to take time for granted.  I had originally planned on working a full-time job this summer before college, but one of the most important things in life is to have fun with living.  It’s important to have fun, no matter how serious your future plans are.”

How she describes herself:  “Friendly – I was voted friendliest by the senior class.  I like to believe I’m a hard worker.  I can be very determined.  I think I get that from my mom.  I don’t enjoy drama or confrontation, so I can be reserved.  I like to be active and involved in my community.”

Her parents:  Amanda and Jose Gomez.

The family menagerie:  “I have two labs, my dad has a Pitbull, and my mom has a Chihuahua and a Maltese.  They’re all well-behaved.  I’ve had all kinds of other pets:  ducks, turtles, rabbits, tarantulas.”  In high school, she worked at Paws and Claws in Odenville.

Advice for high school seniors:  “As for getting scholarships, try to be involved in clubs and keep your grades up.   Try to enjoy your senior year.  It goes by too fast.  It’s easy to get lost between staying with the books or going with the crowd and having fun, so it’s definitely good to have a balance.”

Where she sees herself in five years:  “Graduated with my B.A., in nursing school, and hopefully out of my mom’s house.”