VHS’ Britton to pursue social work
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 graduate Sarah Britton isn’t a Franklin County native, but she said she’s enjoyed the time she’s been here.
Britton moved to the area in the sixth grade and said she liked the fact that it was easy to get acclimated at a smaller school like Vina.
“One of the things I’ve always liked about this school is how you just know everybody,” she said. “I’ve been able to make some really good friends here. Some of the best memories from high school are just the fun times I’ve had with my friends.”
At VHS, Britton was a member of the school’s marching band where she played the tenor saxophone.
“Band has been a good experience,” she said. “We went o Disney World last year and we always had a lot of fun at the football games.”
Britton also took part in the school’s carpentry class, which isn’t something many girls normally participate in.
“I had to choose a class to take and I knew Mr. Graben was a good teacher,” she said, “but I also like to know how to do things. Even if I’m never planning on being a carpenter, it’s still good to know how to do some of these things just in case you ever need to know how to do it in the future.”
Britton said the carefree days of high school and the minimal responsibility have been the greatest things about the past four years.
“Really all you have to worry about in high school is getting your homework done,” she said. “I haven’t had to worry about having to get a job or anything like that, so I’ll miss that part about high school.”
But just because she has had diminished responsibility in high school doesn’t mean Britton hasn’t had a little more responsibility than other high schoolers have had.
Since the ninth grade, Britton has participated in the Upward Bound program that allows high school students to take college classes during the summer at Northwest-Shoals Community College.
“I have really loved everything about the Upward Bound Program,” she said. “I think I would be a lot more nervous about starting college if I hadn’t been a part of it, but I’m already used to the way things work at Northwest.
“After this summer, I’ll already have 18 credit hours before I actually start college in August. That’s a good feeling to know that I have a lot of that stuff behind me and I can just keep moving forward towards my future.”
Britton said she plans to continue studying at NWSCC until she has her basics completed and then transfer to a college in Nebraska where her dad and the majority of her family lives.
“I think being a college student is going to be a lot better because I can choose my own hours, the teachers don’t hassle you and I’ll have more independence,” she said. “I’ll like learning how to do things on my own.”
Britton said she is planning on majoring in social work, which is a career that is close to her heart.
“My little sister, Montana, had a social worker, so when she was going through all that, I saw the need for more people who cared about the kids and wanted what was best for them,” she said. “I know the job can be tough, but I don’t mind. I think it’s something I will like doing.”
After she graduates with her degree and starts looking for a place to settle down and start her career, Britton said she’ll be looking for a bigger city.
“I used to live in a bigger city and I just liked it better than living in a small community,” she said. “I don’t know where the city will be. Even though most of my family is in Nebraska, I still have some family here, so maybe I’ll live somewhere in the middle and split the difference.”
Britton’s father is Tony Dettarty and her step-mother is Connie Plunkett. She has five siblings, Sky, Raven, Haley, Montana, Trinity and C.J.
