Hiwassee Dam – With high school graduation celebrations across Cherokee County concluded, the Class of 2020 – including Hiwassee Dam’s top pair of students – look ahead to the next step in their lives.
Grace Ledford
Gracie Ledford, daughter of Stephanie and Rick Ledford, said finishing at the top of her class amid the chaos of the coronavirus-shortened spring semester is a huge
accomplishment.
“It feels like a really big accomplishment,” Ledford said. “This year, we weren’t really recognized the same as previous years but I’m still proud of myself, and my family has made it a still really big deal. I think that for everyone who still pushed through their year, regardless of their class rank, it (graduation) is still something to be really proud of.”
With high school behind her, Ledford is planning on finishing up her certified nursing assistant certificate over the summer at Hiwassee Dam, so when the fall semester comes around, she can enroll at Tri-County Community College. She plans to enter the school’s nursing program with the intention of getting an associate’s degree in nursing from Tri-County, then completing a bachelor’s degree online via Western Carolina University.
Ledford said some of her favorite memories during her time at Hiwassee Dam included cheering for the basketball team, the school’s pep rallies and all of the friends she made during her time as an Eagle. Leaving the Hiwassee Dam school system is a bittersweet moment, as she said the graduating class was like an extended family.
“All of us, we know each other,” Ledford said. “We know each other’s families, we know each other’s brothers and sisters, we all pretty much grew up together for the most part either at Ranger or at Hiwassee Dam, so it definitely is bittersweet.”
Spencer Guess
Spencer Guess, son of Susan and Keith Guess, said while he’s happy to finish at the top of Hiwassee Dam’s graduating class, he doesn’t think students should get caught up in class rank.
“To be totally honest, I feel like anybody, despite their class rank, could have potential or ability about themselves, and I don’t think that you should get caught up in your class rank and think that it places you above them, because it very well might be that someone ranked 20th could pass you in the future or be more serious in college or their career,” she said.
“But I do feel like I’ve been rewarded for the work that I’ve put in over the years. And I feel like it’s really helped me with applying to colleges and building that pathway into my future.”
Guess said while he’s constantly going back and forth about his future, his plan at the moment is to attend the University of North Carolina in Asheville to pursue a four-year degree in philosophy. The ideal scenario would be continuing on to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in philosophy, then later finding a position teaching the subject.
One of the things Guess said he will miss the most about Hiwassee Dam is the small community and class sizes at the school.
“The feeling of comfort that I have with the school,” he said when talking about what he will miss about his school. “Being familiar with all of the people, all of the teachers, I will miss that feeling of familiarity and comfort.”