By KALEY GILBERT
Attending Davidson College in the fall, senior Emily Collins exemplifies student involvement. Collins was a member of the Academy of Finance magnet as well as an active club representative and athlete, all while maintaining her 4.0 unweighted GPA.
One of Collins’s inspirations to remain dedicated is her older brother Charles, a valedictorian of his graduating class.
“Seeing my brother accomplish all that he did motivated me to do the same,” Collins said. “If he could do it, then I could do it.”
Being a part of the finance magnet was a big part of Collins’s high school life. During her four years in the magnet, Collins’s gained on-the-job experience working at the Central Florida Educators Federal Credit Union on-campus branch as student manager, as well as gaining many close friendships from within the program. Collins cites her finance classes with Bill Daniel as among her favorites.
“[One of the main things I took from his class] is to take pride in your work because it’s a reflection of yourself and to have integrity in what you do,” Collins said.
Besides being a part of the finance program, Collins was also a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society, a captain of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, vice president of Mu Alpha Theta and she was on the cross country team all four years.
“[My most embarrassing memory was] the time during cross country season I got lost running to Lake Highland,” Collins said. “I had to go to IHOP to borrow their phone so I could call someone to pick me up.”
In college, Collins plans to study economics and is interested in becoming an accountant. As she says goodbye to high school, Collins leaves underclassmen this advice: “Prioritize the things you have to accomplish. Work hard, but make time to have fun too.”
