Not One to Miss Out

For 12 years, Taylor Barrickman has not missed a single day of school, which comes out to approximately 2,160 days of perfect attendance For this reason, and many others, she is West Ashley High’s final West Of Student of the Month for the 2014-15 school year.
Perfect attendance during her years in school shows great dedication and promise for a future educator like herself. After high school, Barrickman plans to attend Spartanburg Methodist University to study Sports Medicine so she can become a Physical Education teacher. Besides her strong sense of commitment, another reason she will be a great P.E. teacher is because of the experience and the skills she gained while playing soccer for WAHS. Since her freshman year Barrickman has been a part of the WAHS Girls’ Soccer Team.
One of the things that Barrickman loves about WAHS is the variety of programs, clubs, and team sports that are offered. She’s a part of many different groups on campus and as a member of the Prom Committee, she was instrumental in helping to plan and promote this year’s Prom, which was held aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown.
“Taylor is a fantastic example of a complete student. She has come to her job — her school work — daily with a desire to learn and to grow,” says WAHS principal, Lee Runyon. “She is an outstanding athlete as well and embodies all the characteristics of a successful West Ashley High Wildcat. Her perfect attendance is an accomplishment, but her perseverance over time is her legacy.”
When asked who she admires and looks up to, Barrickman says her grandfather because he commits himself to whatever it is he’s working on and doesn’t get side tracked. Guess that’s a family trait. She says her ability to commit herself to a task and her ability to communicate well with others are her greatest strengths.
When asked how she feels about being named Student of the Month, Barrickman says, “It feels good, especially since I’m the last one for the year. Staying focused and attending school each day has helped me achieve being so many things during my time at West Ashley High.”