Hester hears her calling as therapist
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.
Belgreen High School senior Summer Hester, 17, will be wrapping up her high school career in May and will begin a phase of her life that she says she is looking forward to.
Unlike some high school seniors who are still undecided about what career they want to have, Hester has been sure of her career choice since she was young.
“I have known I want to study to be a speech therapist since third grade when my teacher, Mrs. Rebecca Massey, held a career day,” Hester said. “She suggested that I would be a good speech therapist and it stuck. I believe the inability to talk and laugh would be very devastating to a person and their loved ones.”
In ten years, Hester hopes to be working as a speech therapist at a hospital in either Nashville or even as far as California. Wherever she ends up, she knows that she just wants to help people.
Even though Hester is sure of the career she wants to pursue, she isn’t sure just yet which college she wants to attend. However, Hester is weighing her options carefully so she can make the best decision for her future.
“Right now I’m trying to decide between Montevallo and Auburn,” she said. “I really would like to go to Montevallo because of their school size and their speech pathology program. Montevallo has a reputation for being one of the best speech therapy programs in Alabama.
“I would also like to attend Auburn because it feels like a second home. My father’s family has been a part of the Auburn family for many years.”
Choosing the right school can be a difficult decision for a high school senior who has so many other things her mind, and Hester has a few things to decide that other students her age don’t have to worry about.
Hester has a twin brother, Will, who is also a senior at Belgreen. Growing up with someone who has shared everything with her has been fun, but now Hester has to decide if they will share the same college as well.
“In the beginning, I always saw myself going to college with Will,” Hester said. “Will and I are a great balance when it comes to school. We keep each other on our toes. And I know my mom would love for us both to attend Auburn for her peace of mind and for financial reasons.
“But, as time has gone on, Will and I are going in completely different directions. I think it would beneficial for us if we just went to college together, but in the end, we are individuals and we’ll make the best decision for ourselves.”
Hester said that she is excited to start her college career in the fall because she has always loved to learn, but there are some things about high school that she will miss.
Hester has been very involved at BHS. She is a member of the varsity cheerleading squad where she was voted Most Spirited Cheerleader. She was also voted as a Miss Belgreen High School alternate, Best All Around in the senior class and the Most Outstanding Student.
She’ll miss all these high school activities, but she’ll also miss the people who she grew up with throughout school.
“I will definitely miss my friends the most,” Hester said. “It will be so strange not seeing them everyday.”
In the future, Hester hopes to have a steady job and she also hopes to travel.
“I have always wanted to travel across Europe because of European history and culture,” she said. “That’s one thing I really hope to do at some point in my life.”
Hester also has plans to travel this summer. She is planning on taking a couple of trips with family and friends before she begins her new college life at either Montevallo or Auburn.
“We are planning a trip with my cousin to drive up the East Coast and visit beaches, D.C., New York, and go all the way up to Maine,” Hester said “so I’ll be busy traveling this summer.”
Hester is the daughter of Jehu and Deborah Hester and she has one brother, Will; and one sister, Mollie.
She is the granddaughter of the late Chess Hester and Sue Hester and the late Edward Horton and Lois Horton.
