ECHS val, sal say focus, balance were keys in school success

Published 1:59 pm Wednesday, May 1, 2019

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Staying focused on your work and finding a balance were the main keys of success for Escambia County’s valedictorian and salutatorian.

Christiara Jones is the class of 2019’s valedictorian, and Johnika Roberts is the salutatorian.

Jones grew up in Atmore, and has lived here her whole life. Roberts lives in McCullough, but has been going to local schools.

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“I like living out there, but also being able to come here because it’s a different environment,” Roberts said.

Added Jones: “It’s been great to grow up in Atmore,” she said.

Roberts said being able to stay focused on the task at hand helped her in many ways.

“Then, it becomes not as much of a challenge,” she said. “You have to stay on top of your work.”

Jones admitted being able to balance school with your personal life is hard.

Having the ability to overcome so much and finding a balance in school are important traits.

Jones and Roberts said their mothers helped pave the way for them.

“My mother, especially, because I just grew up living with her,” Jones said. “Basically my whole life I feel like most of my characteristics came from her. She’s the same person as me. She set a good example.”

For Roberts, she tries to be a replica of her mother.

Jones and Roberts said their senior years have been both fun and stressful. The last day for seniors is May 10 with graduation slated for May 21.

After high school, both will be attending Auburn University-Montgomery and are majoring in nursing.

Roberts said the reason why she’s going into nursing is because of an earlier experience in life.

“For me, I kind of took it from an experience I had in my life,” she said. “My mom was in a car accident (in 2012) and she was bed bound for a long time. I did a lot of caring stuff for her, doing everything from general care to IV fluids. It was interesting to learn about it, and I came up here and started taking all of the nursing classes we have to offer. It was something interesting to me.”

Jones said the prospect of helping people is appealing to her.

“I just like being able to help people,” she said. “Being in the nursing field, you have like a great chance of doing it. I like working with children and babies. That’s where my interest is in being an OBGYN came from. I just love the birthing process. I think it’s a mazing. Being able to bring people in this world is what I want to be able to do when I finish school.”

At ECHS, both are involved in a myriad of activities, including Student Government Association, FBLA, HOSA, Peer Helpers, Triton Club, Math Team and the National Honors Society.

Roberts is the daughter of Katrena Reynolds of Atmore and Johnathan Roberts of Phenix City.

Jones is the daughter of Lakeisha McNeal and Christopher Jones of Atmore.