If Phil Campbell mayor Steve Bell needed an ambassador for his town, he couldn't do much better than Carley Nix.
Nix, the daughter of Rodney Nix and Tonya Bostick, is the valedictorian of Phil Campbell High School's Class of 2018. She finished first among her class of 71 students and will take her academic talents to Troy University this fall.
Although she's moving four hours away to continue her education, Phil Campbell will always provide a lifetime of memories for Nix.
“I love my high school and couldn't have asked for a better place to be,” Nix said. “I love my friends, going to basketball games and different sporting events. That helps you get close to people—your coaches, cheerleading sponsor, classmates, even principals. I'll miss Phil Campbell, and it makes me tear up thinking about it.
"There's no place like Phil Campbell High School, and you might not realize that unless you go there. It's like losing a family member, and that's kind of sad."
Although Nix didn't find out she was first in her class until last fall, she said it was always a motivating goal for her to do well in school.
“It's something I worked for really hard," she said. "Some people's strength is sports. Mine was trying to work toward this goal. It was a goal to try and set myself apart from others, and I wasn't going to do that through sports. I always wanted to represent my school and my parents well, and this was the best way to do it because I'm not very athletic.”
Nix says success in academics isn't something that came easily for her. It's a strength she developed as she progressed through school.
“I have to work for it," Nix said. "I have to study pretty hard every time I have a test. Not that it's a struggle, but I definitely have to work for it. It's not something that came naturally to me. I had to teach myself good study habits.”
While Nix knows she'll have to “intensify” her study routine at Troy, she still feels confident in her ability to succeed as she pursues a degree in nursing.
“What I've done so far has worked pretty well, but I'll have to intensify some," she said. "I can't just pick up a study guide the night before a test. But as far as my routine from high school, I'll stick to what I've been doing."
Nix chose Troy over the University of North Alabama and Northwest-Shoals Community College, although she says all three have outstanding nursing programs.
“UNA and Northwest-Shoals have great nursing programs," Nix said, "but Troy seemed a better match for me because of the fast-track program to become a nurse practitioner. That's my end all goal so I can practice medicine in some form, so Troy seemed like a better fit."
Another reason Troy was a good fit for Nix? Her boyfriend, former Russellville football standout Austin Stidham, attends Troy and is a member of the Trojan football team.
“I'm excited because I have my boyfriend down there, but I'm a homebody and I'll miss my mom,” Nix said. “But I think I need to get away to better appreciate what I have. It's scary because it's unknown, but I'm pretty excited about it.”
What attracts Nix about nursing is the ability to really help people. She's seen her father and grandfather battle cancer, and Nix recalls how supportive nurses have been with them.
“Doctors help patients, but nurses are the primary ones who comfort them," she said, "and that's what I want to do for other people when I go into the work force."
Nix received a leadership scholarship from Troy and scholarships from the Alabama Cattlemen's Association and the Franklin County Cattlemen's Association. She also received the prestigious NaphCare scholarship for students pursuing a career in health care. That was a $5,000 scholarship.
At Phil Campbell, Nix played basketball and was a Bobcat cheerleader. She was president of Junior Civitan, the National Honor Society and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Nix said she most enjoyed the fund raisers and toy/clothing drives to help needy kids at Christmas time.
“When you see pictures from kids who otherwise wouldn't have Christmas, which is something I've never encountered, thank God, that gives you joy to be able to help somebody," Nix said. "It's a feeling I can't explain."
Like most Phil Campbell classes, the Class of 2018 was forever changed after experiencing the devastating EF-5 tornado that ravaged the community on April 27, 2011.
“The tornado definitely made us closer. It made us realize we're not guaranteed tomorrow,” Nix said. “As little kids, you don't realize your friend, teacher or grandparent might die tomorrow. It brings you down to earth, and you realize you can't take things for granted.
“We try to enjoy the small things and enjoy everything while we can. You never know what might happen, so enjoy life as it happens."
When she delivers her valedictorian speech to her classmates, Nix plans to encourage them to embrace their future without regrets.
“We all have bright futures. I hear older people talk sometimes about wishing they'd done this or that in their lives,” Nix said. “I never want my classmates to have regrets as we experience life in this world.”
As Nix reflects on moving to the next phase of her life, she knows she's blessed to have two parents who've supported her through her entire life.
“I never worried about them missing a ballgame or school event," she said. "They were always saying, 'Just do your best, and if it happens, it happens, and if it doesn't we still love and support you.
“I have two of the best parents you could have, and I've never had to go without them. I'm thankful for that and couldn't ask for better parents."
