As Colbert Heights valedictorian Lauren Howard looks back at her high school career, she says there's a lot of credit due her parents and teachers.
The daughter of Travis and Chastity Howard, Lauren will graduate first in her class of more than 90 seniors on The Mountain.
“When I was in kindergarten, my parents told me to always do my best. That always stuck with me," Howard said. "They never pushed me any more than that. I wanted to prove to myself I was doing my best."
Howard will continue her education this fall at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, where she will major in computer science. Howard hopes to enter the field of cyber security.
“I want to get into cyber security because I like to help people," she said. "The internet will always be growing, and I want to protect users on the internet."
As far as her selection of UAH, Howard said she fell in love with the campus the first time she visited it.
“I visited the campus about a year ago and was completely sold on it," she said. "It was a wonderful experience, and the tour was wonderful."
Howard was so solid on her choice of UAH that she turned down two scholarships that would have helped pay for her education at Northwest-Shoals Community College and the University of Alabama. She will receive a Merit Tuition Scholarship at UAH, which will cover her full tuition, based on her academic standing and her strong ACT score of 30.
Howard is no stranger to the ACT. In fact, she took it six times before hitting her target score of 30.
“I also had an English teacher, Laura James, help me take practice tests. She was a big help," Howard said. "I took the ACT the first time in the tenth grade. I was shooting for a 30 in order to get a full tuition scholarship at UAH."
Howard said she will always remember and appreciate the support she received from James.
“She always took the time to help her students," Howard said. "She even started a dual enrollment course for English with the University of North Alabama. Mrs. James does a lot of things for students."
With the tight-knit Colbert Heights community and the school at the heart of it, Howard believes that helps create a family-like atmosphere.
“It's more isolated than other schools. But we receive a lot of hands-on help from our teachers,” Howard said. “They're always really close with students. They tell life stories and try to help us the best they can. We have a very close senior class, too. It's almost like a family.”
Howard was active in several school academic organizations, including Future Business Leaders of America, the National Junior Honor Society and the National Honor Society, as well as the math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta.
“I was in FBLA since seventh grade," she said. "We always did fundraisers and helped people in the community. It taught me the importance of volunteering and helping other people."
Howard recently began working at Oh' Bryan's restaurant in Tuscumbia. She plans to transfer to the Huntsville Oh' Bryans's and continue to work while in school.
While she plans to return home to Hawk Pride Mountain to visit her family and friends, Howard thinks it's likely she'll stay in the Huntsville area after college because that's where the most job opportunities in cyber security will be found.
As far as advice to students about to embark on their high school careers, Howard says success isn't complicated.
“Believe in themselves and never give up," she said. "Always listen to what their teachers are saying. Listen to your parents, and hopefully they are motivating you. But most of all, believe in themselves."
