Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. MAY 13. 2021
Interviews with the STARs of Pickens High
The Optimist Club of Jasper along with Pickens High School recognized the 2021 STAR Students and Teachers
and the nine STAR Finalists on April 27th at the PHS Performing Arts Center at PHS. Each student and teacher
was given a questionnaire, and below you will find responses from each of this year’s STARs.
The 2021 STAR Student is Mr. Brett Menard. Brett selected Mrs. Christine Westbrook as his STAR Teacher.
Brett Menard
2021 STAR Student
Brett is the son of Mark
and Michell Menard.
He has one brother, Nick
Menard.
Briefly describe your
plans after high school
graduation.
After high school, I am
attending the Georgia Insti
tute of Technology. I will be
majoring in Engineering
and minoring in German.
After those four years, I
plan to earn a master’s de
gree in Robotics Engineer
ing at ETH Zurich in
Switzerland. I want to enter
Rescue Robotics, a field of
robotics dedicated to build
ing machines to assist in dis
aster relief scenarios like
earthquakes, floods, and
wildfires. I feel like through
this career path, I will be
able to directly help other
people through my passion
with engineering.
What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
During my sophomore
year I was in a rough place
mentally and AP Biology
was my favorite class. De
spite being a difficult aca
demic class, it was the one
that I had the best time in
and a large part of that was
because of Mrs. Westbrook.
Before entering that class, I
strongly disliked biology,
but I was able to become
genuinely interested in the
content during the class be
cause of Mrs. Westbrook’s
teaching style. But she was
more than just a good
teacher to me, she was a
good person to me too. A
few days after one of my
grandmothers passed away
from Alzheimer’s, I came to
class silent and depressed. It
was the last period of the
day, but hallway through the
period, Mrs. Westbrook be
came the first person during
the entire day who came up
to me and asked me if I was
okay. I explained the situa
tion to her, and she offered
the opportunity to vent and
get away from everyone for
a minute. After that, I started
to feel closer to her and talk
to her more one on one, and
I continued to visit her in
her classroom during the
next school year and again
this year. She has been ex
tremely supportive of me
during my high school years
and I want to recognize her
for that.
What advice would you
give to a rising freshman
at PHS?
Do not waste your op
portunity. After high school
ends, you lose the ability to
try things out for free. So,
while you are here, try out
as many things as you can.
Interested in a certain career
field? Get involved in a club
that competes in the field.
We have lots of them at
PHS. I joined the Technol
ogy Student Association my
freshman year and it helped
me decide how I wanted to
spend my life. A lot of peo
ple will call high school a
waste of time but is only be
comes a waste of time when
you let it become one. There
are so many different class
pathways and organizations
that one can participate in
that you will be able to
make the most of your time
here. So, don’t to be afraid
or too lazy to try something
new while you’re here.
Don’t devote yourself to
standard academics so much
that you fail to develop your
passions and interests.
What is your most memo
rable educational experi
ence in school?
(Kindergarten to present)
I cannot pick out just one
experience as the most
memorable or transforma
tive, but my involvement
with the Technology Stu
dent Association (TSA) has
led me to many experiences
that have had a tremendous
impact on my passions and
goals for life. I joined TSA
during my freshman year,
but I did not become really
active until my sophomore
year. I met a lot of amazing
people in the club and I got
to compete on the state level
several times, designing and
creating my own solutions
to problems with people of
similar passion by my side.
If it were not for my in
volvement with TSA, my
goals for my life and career
would probably have been
very different from what
they are now.
Christine
Westbrook
2021 STAR Teacher
Briefly describe your
STAR Student.
I’m not sure I can fully
put into words what an ex
ceptional young man Brett
is. How do you describe
someone who excels in so
many different areas? With
out question, Brett is one of
the most intelligent students
I’ve ever taught. I don’t
know many students who
truly get excited about
learning the way Brett does.
He has an insatiable desire
just to know how the world
works. But he is so much
more than one of the Class
of 202l’s top performing
students; he is an Eagle
Scout, president of TSA,
3rd degree Taekwondo
Black Belt, and an accom
plished pianist. Brett is
clearly an individual who
seizes every opportunity to
live life to its fullest and to
better himself in the
process. He is also just a
genuinely nice individual
that I and others enjoy being
around. Every day I had him
in class and every time I
have seen him since, he has
a smile and a friendly word
to share. There is so much
more I could say about
Brett, he is truly a special
young man with many gifts
and talents and one student
that will always have a spe
cial place in my memories.
What do you consider the
most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
One of the best pieces of
advice I ever received about
teaching is what I believe is
the most important element
of a successfiil teaching pro
gram. When you draw a line
in the sand with your stu
dents, which side are you
on? Are you on the other
side, trying to pull them
across or are you on their
side, helping them across? I
believe that teachers should
always be on the student’s
side helping them cross the
line. When teachers build a
positive learning environ
ment in which students feel
safe, secure and supported,
they will, in turn, feel em
powered to take risks, they
will see challenges as learn
ing opportunities and it is
then that students will reach
their maximum potential.
Much of the content we
teach will be lost to time,
but students will never for
get how teachers make them
feel.
What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
As the STAR students
prepare to graduate, I would
tell them to dream big, work
hard, remember what fuels
your passion, have fun..but
make good choices, and
most of all enjoy the jour
ney.
Mrs. Westbrook lives in
Talking Rock and has taught
for 27 years. She currently
teaches Honors and AP Bi
ology at PHS. She is mar
ried to Rich Westbrook.
Brooke Bell
2021 STAR Student
Finalist
Brooke is daughter of
Daniel and Christi Bell.
She has one brother, Bran
don Bell.
Briefly describe your
plans after high school
graduation.
I was accepted into the
University of Georgia
through the Early Action de
cision last November. Fol
lowing my completion of
core classes, I plan to attend
the UGA School of Law.
What were your reasons
for selecting your STAR
Teacher?
I chose Mrs. Quarles as
my STAR Teacher because
of the tremendous impact
she has had on me through
out my high school experi
ence. I took my first
engineering class during the
first semester of my fresh
man year. It was in this class
that I was introduced to the
knowledge and skills I
would need to be successful
both in high school and be
yond. Prior to this course, I
had always focused prima
rily on my academic per
formance and had placed
little emphasis on the vari
ous other aspects of school.
However, Mrs. Quarles en
sured that her students
gained the communication,
time management, and crit
ical thinking skills that they
would need to be successful
in the classroom and in a ca
reer. In addition to the tech
nical skills and practical
knowledge I received in the
engineering classes, I also
learned how to be a more
productive member of my
community and society as a
whole.
It was also through Mrs.
Quarles that I was intro
duced to the Technology
Student Association (TSA).
While I was initially nerv
ous to participate in ex
tracurricular activities that
would force me out of my
comfort zone, I applied for
an officer position on the
TSA leadership team and
was chosen to serve as
Chapter Secretary. Mrs.
Quarles guided me through
my experience as an officer
and helped me grow into a
more confident individual.
Whereas I would have never
been comfortable with pub
lic speaking or attending an
interview, she helped me re
alize my potential and en
couraged me to participate
in activities which would
allow me to develop these
skills. As a result, I am more
comfortable with communi
cating with others and be
coming involved with other
activities. Mrs. Quarles truly
helped me reach my fullest
potential.
What advice would you
give to a rising freshman
at PHS?
I would encourage a ris
ing freshmen at PHS to truly
enjoy his or her high school
experience. It can be stress
ful, and many aspects of
school often become over
whelming for most students.
The homework, the respon
sibilities, and simply the
process of growing into an
adult can prove to be diffi
cult challenges to overcome.
However, those are not the
things that I will remember
most about high school. My
best memories will be of the
beautiful sunrises over
Dragon Drive every morn
ing. The football games on
Friday nights in the fall.
Seeing friends in the hall
way between classes and
sharing a laugh. While hard
work and dedication helped
me get where I am today, I
am glad I have so many
memories to look back on
after I graduate. These expe
riences are what made my
time at PHS truly memo
rable, and I hope other stu
dents continue to be
inspired in a similar way.
What is your most memo
rable educational experi
ence in school?
(Kindergarten to present)
The most memorable ed
ucation experience in school
has been taking AP United
States History. Throughout
my time in this class, I
learned more about topics I
was previously interested in
and was introduced to new
ideas that helped me be
come more aware about the
history of America. In addi
tion to the educational
knowledge I gained in this
class, I was also challenged
on a personal level. My AP
US History teacher ex
pected much time and effort
from my classmates and I to
achieve success. I was faced
with many obstacles
throughout my time in this
class and was required to
improve my time manage
ment skills and study habits
to perform well. Unlike my
experience with previous
classes, I was required to
spend much time outside of
school preparing for exams.
However, by the end of the
year, I had developed into a
more diligent and motivated
student. These skills helped
me succeed in the various
other courses I would even
tually take throughout high
school. As a result, I am also
well-prepared for college.
Angela Quarles
2021 STAR Teacher
Finalist
Briefly describe your
STAR Student.
Brooke Bell certainly ex
emplifies the characteristics
of a STAR Student. I met
Brooke during her first year
of high school. Her rigorous
schedule did not allow her
to take the introductory en
gineering at the specific
time it was offered, so a spe
cial section was created for
her during an advanced en
gineering course so that
could complete the first
level independently. Very
quickly I realized that even
as a 14-year-old freshmen in
a class filled with upper
classmen, her talent, skills,
and drive were evident. Not
only did she complete the
introductory level lessons,
but she also completed tasks
assigned to the more ad
vanced group - not because
she had to, but because she
had a drive to go above and
beyond and to learn even
more.
For the last four years I
continued to witness this
drive in Brooke. Whether
working for the best grades
in all her classes, keeping
thorough documentation as
the secretary of our chapter
of the Technology Student
Association (TSA), striving
for perfection in projects for
competitions, or selflessly
volunteering her time for
charitable causes, Brooke
continuously excels.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
said, “To be a star, you must
shine your own light, follow
your path, and don't worry
about the darkness, for that
is when the stars shine
brightest.” In a senior year
that has been filled with un
certainties, Brooke has con
tinued to shine even
brighter. Her positive atti
tude and wonderful person
ality absolutely brighten
wherever she is and I feel
certain that as she takes the
next steps in life, she will
continue to let her light
shine.
What do you consider the
most important element of
a successful teaching pro
gram?
The most important ele
ment of a successful teach
ing program is the
relationship that is built with
each individual student. It is
so essential to cultivate
strong bonds and to build
connections. These interac
tions lets the students know
that you value them and
allow for an environment in
which students feel com
fortable taking risks to learn
things that may seem out
side their grasp. Many times
what our students need most
is not what is in our stan
dards, but what is in our
hearts and the most valuable
lessons are not on the lesson
plans, but the teachable mo
ments that we share. When
I first began teaching I fo
cused on teaching content;
now I focus on teaching stu
dents. There is a significant
difference. While building
a relationship with students,
I trust that in the process
they will learn concepts of
engineering.
What advice would you
give our STAR Students as
they prepare to leave high
school?
To our STAR Students
(and all high school stu
dents): follow your heart
and aptitude in order to dis
cover a career path that will
bring you joy and then care
fully decide what additional
degrees or training is neces
sary in order to reach that
goal. Life-long learning is
vital. One should never stop
learning; however, not
everyone needs a four-year
degree from a university; a
bachelor or master's degree
or even beyond does not
necessarily equate to suc
cess in life and is not always
required - even for those
who are at the very top of
their class in high school.
Never criticize those who
choose to achieve their ca
reer goals in a different
manner or method. While
learning for the sake of
learning will make you
well-rounded and broaden
your view of the world,
marketable skills, a positive
attitude, and a strong work
ethic will make you essen
tial to the world. My advice
to our students as they pre
pare to leave high school is
to always listen to your
heart and follow your
dreams. Be passionate
about all the things you are
proud of and stay true to
who you are. Life is crazy
and will take you where you
never thought you could go
but remember wherever you
end up it's where you were
supposed to be. Trust the
process and believe in your
self and you will go far.
Prepare and do not procras
tinate. Stay as far ahead of
any and all opposition in
your life as possible.
Mrs. Quarles has taught for
28 years. She currently
teaches Engineering at
PHS. She is married to
Barry Quarles.