SILER CITY — Miranda Griffin was finished with exams, and A.J. Alston had just one remaining.
This was nine days before they ended their high school careers by graduating from Chatham Charter School, and they both already have plans: college.
Griffin is planning to attend UNC-Charlotte and take the biology/pre-med track to start her journey toward becoming a physician’s assistant, and Alston is headed to Johnson & Wales University, also in Charlotte, to major in sports & event management, inspired by his fandom of the Carolina Panthers.
The pair sat down with the News + Record ahead of graduation, slated for Saturday, May 18, to talk about their high school careers and what they learned.
How does it feel to be graduating from high school?
MG: It’s exciting. I’m actually ready for it, just to start four years somewhere new. I think the school has prepared me very well for college. With all the resources here, they prepared me as well as possible to go off to college.
AA: I’ve been going here my whole school career, since kindergarten. So it’s exciting to get another chance to go out into the world on my own.
Why are you pursuing the college/career paths that you’ve chosen?
MG: My dad works in the medical field, so I’ve gotten to talk to a bunch of different people that he works with and shadow, just to see where my interest lies. I’m very hands-on, I’m a people person, I love talking to people and meet different people. Something that has to do with that, taking care of people — I don’t know exactly what, but I’m thinking PA right now.
AA: We had a class called “Sports/Entertainment Marketing” and that’s what put me on to it. Once I took that class, I was like, “This is what I want to do.”
Do you have a favorite memory from your time here?
MG: I wouldn’t pinpoint one exact thing, but between different sports and clubs and getting involved or different activities we did as a class, it just makes up the high school experience. The friends that I’ve made through basketball, I’ll still stay in touch with them. It’s not like I’m going to ignore them when I go off.
AA: Definitely sports for me. We went to the playoffs this year, were the first team to win in the playoffs for basketball. So that was exciting. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that kind of stuff. It sticks with you.
Did you have a favorite class or teacher that you enjoyed?
AA: Mr. (Tim) Tally teaches math, that was my first two years. He’s a great teacher. I really enjoyed that class.
MG: For me, it’s Ms. (Kara) Root, just because I love math. Ms. Root’s been there for me for a couple years. She’s the person I go to for anything I need help with.
What’s been the most important life lesson you’ve learned?
AA: For me, it’s been making the most out of the opportunities. This school gives you a lot of opportunities to be ready for college, so you’ve just got to take advantage of them and execute.
MG: I think the biggest opportunity here is being able to take the CCP [N.C. Career & College Promise] pathway. You are emerged in college classes, but you’re able to take that year of college classes that’s knocked off when you go to a university. For me, that’s been the biggest benefit. I feel like that’s probably prepared me the best.
If you could go talk to yourself as a rising ninth-grader, what would you tell him/her?
MG: Don’t rush the high school years. Take your time. Four years have actually flown by. That, and just be involved in as many sports as you can, as many clubs, meet as many people as you can. And make connections, especially with the staff, because you’re going to need it at some point.
AA: Just enjoy the moment. There were times when I would be ready to be done with school. Now I’m looking back and it’s almost over.
Zachary Horner can be reached at zhorner@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @ZachHornerCNR.