Her mother was Vina High School Valedictorian for the Class of 1988. Her sister was Vina's Valedictorian for the Class of 2017. So it's not a shocker that Hailey Cantrell finished as Valedictorian for the Vina High School Class of 2022. Talk about good genes.
“We always heard we had to make A's when we were little or we knew we'd get in trouble when we got home,” Cantrell said. “My parents (Chris and Denieta Cantrell) always pushed me when I was young and I hated that growing up.
“But now as I look back, I'm so thankful they pushed me to do my best. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken school as seriously or cared as much and I wouldn't be where I am now,” she added.
Cantrell will start at Northwest-Shoals Community College this fall. She will be part of the college's Cosmetology program and after she completes that, Cantrell plans to transfer to the University of North Alabama and pursue a degree in Business.
Her career goal is specific—she wants to open her own salon and be her own boss. Cantrell even has a plan where she wants to locate her business.
“I'd really like to move to Madison or Huntsville. Those areas are constantly growing and being from a small town, I'd love to be in a place like Madison that is expanding every day,” Cantrell said.
It's not that the Vina native dislikes her hometown—she wouldn't trade the experience of growing up in Vina for anything. But her business plan calls for a location in a metropolitan area. That's why she hopes to open in Huntsville or Madison, Alabama's fastest growing city.
Cantrell has worked part-time at Vina City Hall the past three years. In a town where everyone knows everyone, Cantrell has learned through her job there are always a few 'everyones' you don't know until they come into City Hall to pay their water and gas bills.
“It's really allowed me to meet all these other people and got me out of my comfort zone by learning to talk to everybody and by being nice and friendly, you learn so much about other people,” Cantrell said.
Cantrell not only shined as a student at Vina High School, she was a talented three-sport athlete. Since seventh grade, Cantrell was part of Vina's track, softball and basketball teams. And she was a cheerleader, member of BETA Club, FBLA, Junior Civitan and a Junior Leadership participant her junior year.
Cantrell earned a Valedictorian Scholarship to NW-SCC, which takes care of all tuition expenses. She also received the Sunshine Homes Scholarship, Tri-State Educational Foundation Scholarship, Kiwanis Club of Russellville Scholarship, Vina BETA Club Scholarship, a Franklin County Cattleman's Association Scholarship and a scholarship from Future Teachers of Alabama.
Cantrell recently walked the stage with 30 of her classmates to receive their diplomas. Vina's Class of 2022 had 31 graduates, the largest number in several years. Cantrell grew up with many of these students. They're more than classmates. They're truly family.
“You know almost everything about each other. About 20 of us grew up together. You see the same faces every day. It can get a little annoying sometimes, but it also creates an absolutely unbreakable bond. These are people I will miss very much and who will always be special to me,” Cantrell said.
Another person Cantrell will always appreciate is Sarah Jane Hattaway, her English teacher, who reminded her students each day how special they are and how special their school and hometown are.
“She always told us don't let anyone tell you you can't do something because you're from Vina,” Cantrell said. “Some people tend to look down on you and she always let us know not to let people tell you that. It meant a lot and she was a big part of making me who I am.”
Although COVID-19 had a dramatic impact on Cantrell's high school career, there was one silver lining that resulted from the pandemic. It may have helped Cantrell pass her Geometry class, the one subject she struggled with in high school.
“It was definitely my most challenging class. I tried to get help and had three tutors but that didn't seem to help either,” Cantrell said. “The year COVID hit, that probably saved me because I was really struggling in that class. When we got out of school we were sent home with books and online work and I could teach myself my own way and that really helped me get through it.”
As she moves forward with her education and her life, Cantrell will be used to explaining to people she meets where her hometown is.
“I always say it's a very small town with no red lights and one big intersection. You usually have to tell them where it is by mentioning Russellville or Red Bay,” Cantrell said.
“When they ask about my school, I tell them it's small. We have 31 kids in my class and that's the biggest senior class in five years. I also share with them the closeness of our class and how everybody is really like one big family,” she added.
And that's a family Cantrell will always be proud to be a part of, no matter how far she gets from home.
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