VHS’ Hammock hopes to help others by teaching
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 Tyler Hammock has spent a good portion of the last four years being involved with athletics at his school.
In addition to being part of the school’s Leo Club, the 18-year old senior has been part of the baseball team, the basketball team and the football team, where he made All-County for two years.
“I just really like the competitiveness of sports,” he said. “I also enjoying being on teams with all my friends and making memories, like winning the area tournament in baseball my freshman year.”
Hammock said he has enjoyed attending VHS and being part of a smaller school.
“The atmosphere is just great around here because everybody knows everybody and gets along,” he said.
“Class sizes are small so the teachers can give you more one-on-one time, and I think that gives us a better learning experience.”
Hammock said he will miss the familiar halls of VHS and the teachers and friends he has there, but he said he’s looking forward to the next chapter in his life.
“I’m just really looking forward to being out on my own, having a little more independence and just experiencing the real world,” he said.
“I’m also anxious to get closer to having a career and getting that part of my life started.”
Hammock said he planned to attend Northwest-Shoals Community College for the first two years to get his basic classes out of the way before transferring to Athens State.
“Northwest is close to home and they offer classes there that will easily transfer to Athens when the time comes for that, so it just seemed like the best choice for me,” he said.
Hammock said he plans to major in history and receive an education degree so he can one day become a history teacher and a coach.
“Being a coach is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Hammock said. “If I had my choice, I’d want to be a head basketball coach or an assistant football coach.
“I’ve had so many good coaches and I just want to be able to be a positive influence for students and do something that I know I will enjoy doing and coaching would be the best way to achieve both of those goals.”
Hammock said teaching and coaching go hand-in-hand and he thought history would be a subject he would enjoy teaching others about.
“I’ve always been good at history and it’s always interested me,” he said.
“Coach Hamilton has been a big influence in my life and I see how much he enjoys teaching history and coaching, and I’d like to be the kind of teacher he is.”
Hammock said once he has his degree, he would like to come back to Franklin County to have his career.
“I’ve enjoyed growing up in Franklin County and I like the small-town feel the area has,” he said.
“Growing up here, I know it’s a good place to be and a good place to settle down, so it would be great if I could find a teaching and coaching job close to home.”
In his spare time, Hammock said he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and playing basketball with his friends.
Hammock is the son of David Hammock and the late Crystal Raper. He has two siblings, David Hammock and Josee Williams.
