Sophomore Ave’r McKay has been attending Kearsley since eighth grade.

McKay likes attending Kearsley because she think it is a good place.

“I like it (Kearsley) because it’s a fun and safe environment,” McKay said.

She has had a successful high school career so far.

McKay spends her free time outside of school reading, writing, and swimming.

She is on the track and field team and she is also a member of the swim team.

McKay decided to run track and field because she wanted to be involved in a spring sport.

“I wanted to run track and field because I’m good at it,” McKay said. “It’s the only sport that doesn’t involve hitting or shooting a ball.”

McKay thinks that her best achievements are from track and field, especially winning most valuable player for two consecutive years.

“I got MVP for track my freshman and sophomore years,” McKay said. “I put the best effort forward to making us a better team. It was an honor.”

She also excels in swimming. As a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team, she and her teammates set a school record this year. The other team members are senior Izzy Barrett (Clio), junior Halley Huber, and junior Taylor Stockton.

McKay trains all  year to make sure she can perform as well as possible.

“I train all summer, after school, and before school during the school year, every morning during swim season, and everyday after school for track,” McKay said.

However, she dislikes not being able to win at everything she does.

“My least favorite thing to do is to lose,” McKay said.

McKay said her family inspired her to run track and field.

As one of the older children in her family, McKay also prides herself on being able to participate in her little sisters’ childhoods.

“I helped my little sisters learn how to walk,” McKay said.

She has one older sister, 23, and one older brother, 16. At 15, all of her other siblings are younger: a brother, 12, and three more sisters who are 5, 3, and 1.

McKay’s goal is to excel in high school and go to college at the University of North Carolina.

“My goals are to graduate (high school) with honors and get accepted into UNC-Chapel Hill,” McKay said.

McKay wants to become a doctor who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology.

An obstetrician is a physician who focuses on pregnancy, labor, and puerperium, and a gynecologist specializes in the female reproductive system.

Mr. Chris Torok, McKay’s favorite teacher, thinks that she is dedicated toward her education.

“I had her last year for math. She’s definitely a hard worker,” Torok said. “She is very polite and organized. She was one of my top students.”

The advice that McKay gives to incoming freshmen is to take high school seriously.

“High school is very important, “McKay said. “It’s a lot different from middle school.”