Kyla Brooks, 17, is a senior at Hydro-Eakly High School.
Her parents are dad Michael, mom Jordan, stepdad Cullen and stepmom Brittany. She has two younger sisters and a younger brother.
Brooks plans to continue her education at SWOSU while majoring in special education.
“I’m excited to be a part of journalism, and making final memories before moving on to the next chapter of my life,” she said.
Because of COVID-19, Brooks said her senior year is not how she pictured it would happen, and she is concerned she and her classmates might miss out on events students have always been excited to do.
Brooks said being a high school senior is definitely weird.
“You feel like you’re never going to get to be a senior, and then once it finally happens you feel like it all flew by so fast,” she said.
Brooks said she has so many great memories from high school, but one memory in particular stands out.
“I’ll never forget going to state for basketball and having so much fun with the girls,” she said.
Brooks said her English and Journalism teacher, Ms. Lia Hillman, has impacted her during her time in high school.
“She always has been a great teacher and is one of the most caring and nicest people I have ever met,” Brooks said.
Hillman has had Kyla in her class for two years.
“Kyla has been a tremendous asset to our Journalism class,” Hillman said. “I really enjoyed having her in my class, and I’m excited to see where her future takes her.”
Brooks said in ten years, she hopes she will be happily married, will have a career as a special education teacher and will hopefully start a family of her own.
Brook’s advice to underclassmen is to “[Not] let anyone get you down and always do what makes you happy,” she said. “Don’t worry about anyone else”.