Carpentry the calling for VHS’ Parker

Editor’s Note: Franklin’s Future is a regular feature spotlighting a high school senior in Franklin County and what they have planned for life after graduation.

Cody Parker

Vina’s Cody Parker has made the most of his time in high school.
The 19-year-old senior has been a Vina Red Devil since the seventh grade and said he’s glad he had the opportunity to go to a smaller school where he has made many friends.
“We all have a lot of fun together here,” he said. “I just like picking at all my classmates and they pick at me, too.
“I don’t have any brothers or sisters so my classmates have kind of been like brothers and sisters. I’m going to miss everyone a lot once we graduate.”
During his time at VHS, Parker has found his niche in two specific areas: his first-period carpentry class and the school’s band program.
In the band, Parker plays the xylophone and he said some of his best high school memories have been made in the band program.
“Last year the band got to go to Disneyworld and we had a lot of fun there,” he said. “I also loved going to the football games, playing the music and seeing everybody there.”
When Parker wasn’t involved with band, he was pouring all his efforts into his carpentry class, something he has enjoyed so much that he wants to have a career in carpentry.
“I’ve always loved making things and building things,” he said. “I’ve been working on a bird house in my carpentry class and I just enjoy it – I like making different things and learning about the different machines. It’s a career I think I would be good at and one that I would like doing, too.”
Parker said carpentry was also a good career choice because it would keep him busy.
“I can’t stand laziness so I’m always doing something,” he said. “Even if I’m just whittling, I try to make good use of my time.”
Parker seems very set on his career choice but he’s also smart enough to know that he needs a back-up plan “just in case.”
“If I couldn’t do carpentry, I think I’d like to rebuild carburetors,” he said. “I watch my dad work on vehicles and I think I could probably do a good job with that, too.”
Whatever the career might be, Parker said he’s certain that he would like to continue living in Franklin County in the future.
“This is just a quiet and peaceful place,” he said. “I’ve liked living here so far so I think I would still like it in the years to come.”
Parker said he would also be close to his parents, Terry Massey and Connie Veto Scott.
“I dread graduating because that’s when the hard part of life starts, but I’ve really liked high school while I’ve been here,” he said.
“To those who are younger than me, I would just say to always try your best in class, make good grades and try to follow in the footsteps of others who have done good in their studies.”