VHS’ Darracott to play softball at Judson
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.
Vina High School’s Chelsea Darracott has tried to make the most out of her high school experience.
The 17-year-old senior has been part of the school’s cheerleading squad and the short stop on the softball team; she has been a member of Fellowship of Christian Students, Future Business Leaders of America, Students Against Destructive Decisions and the Leo Club; she represented her class as the 11th grade representative on the Homecoming Court and she represented the school as Miss VHS.
“Vina is such a small school that you’re able to really get involved with a lot of different things,” Darracott said. “Everybody is so close and we’re close to the teachers. That will be something I’ll miss once I go to college because I don’t think it’ll be that way anywhere else.”
Over the past four years, Darracott has made many memories that she said she’ will cherish for years to come.
“The homecoming game our 11th grade year when I was a representative was a crazy game because the officials who were supposed to be calling our game didn’t even get there until 10 that night,” she said. “We haven’t ever had anything like that happen before and it was just crazy there for a while. I definitely won’t forget that.”
Darracott said she has also made many good memories playing softball with her fellow Red Devil teammates.
“I’ve been playing softball since the eighth grade and it’s just my passion,” she said. “It’s what I love to do.”
Because of her hard work and dedication on the field, Darracott was able to turn that passion into a scholarship to play softball at Judson College, an all-girls college in Marion.
“I was really excited about the scholarship offer from Judson because I wanted to continue to play softball and I think Judson will be a really good school,” she said. “It’s smaller so I’ll be more comfortable with that coming from a small school like Vina and I should be able to get my degree faster there.”
While at Judson, Darracott plans to pursue a career in nursing.
“I really like to help people and I think nursing is a great way to do that,” she said. “My mom is a traveling nurse and she really enjoys it. Being a traveling nurse is actually something I would like to do so that I could travel before I settle down.”
Darracott said she also had her sights set on working in Tuscaloosa for a few years and wouldn’t might if that was where she eventually ended up living.
“I just have a lot of things I want to do and accomplish,” she said.
Before she sets off to start accomplishing all her goals, Darracott said she plans to spend her summer hanging out with friends, playing on a traveling softball team and taking a cruise as her senior trip.
“Everyone should just really enjoy this time in their life while they can,” she said. “But those that are just getting started in high school should remember to take their grades seriously from the beginning and not wait until it’s too late.”
Darracott is the daughter of Kim and Richard Lewis. She has two older brothers, Bryan and Blake Darracott, and two younger brothers, Jacob and Hunter Lewis.
