Seventeen-year-old Haileigh Taylor, senior class secretary, is a standout among her peers at Auburn High School in Riner. “She’s simply amazing,” says Elizabeth Sullivan, the guidance counselor who nominated her for “this prestigious placement” as a ColorsVA Scholar of the Month.
“I am very excited, honored,” says Haileigh. “I read that magazine and several of my friends have been featured. I am truly honored to join them.”
In nominating Haileigh for the award, Sullivan said, “My first impression of her, is she’s just a super sweet girl. She’s really kind and funny. I’m just really proud of her for the grace that she has shown walking these hallways. She’s gone above and beyond to advocate for what she needs, so that’s what initially stands out about her.” While Haileigh says she is comfortable at Auburn High School, she admits there are some experiences that she is missing because she is the only African American girl in her entire High School. “I feel like I have missed a lot of my Black experience as a child so as I progress more into my adulthood…my early adulthood … I could really get a feel for the Black experience and really embrace my culture and my heritage more freely than I have in K-12 (years),” she says. So, Haileigh applied to an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and she was accepted to begin college this fall at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T). Her 3.85 GPA landed her acceptance where she plans to major in psychology, focusing on neurology.
“Haileigh has been an impressive young woman all throughout high school,” adds Sullivan. “She continually challenged herself with taking college level courses and doing exceedingly well. She is a leader in the school and someone that people are drawn to because of her fun spirit. She has overcome a lot being one of the few students of color in a small, rural, predominantly white high school.”
Haileigh has gone above and beyond to serve the community through the Calfee Community Culture Center in Pulaski, where she was an intern for the restart of the Calfee Training School. She has participated in several community outreach conferences. “I hope that people learn that there is more to do than just high school. There’s more to do than just a sport. There’s a lot of community needs outside of school…There are lots of issues in our communities.”
Further, Haileigh says, “There’s a lot of just hardships that people may not even know about that exist, so I just hope that people realize there is life outside of school,” she explains.
Jill Williams of Calfee Community Culture Center is grateful for Haileigh’s involvement. “She is highly intelligent, but also socially skilled. She is passionate about what’s right and wrong,” says Williams. “Haileigh is bold when it comes to pointing out things that are not right. I think in the social climate of today, some people are afraid to speak out against what’s right, whether it’s about social justice or immigration or any number of things. And I just find it refreshing.” Haileigh speaks out and up about the social injustices happening in the world.
Williams says Haileigh is a role model., “a culture shifter. She brings people together no matter their race, ethnicities, gender or even agenda. She goes above and beyond to unite folks. Haileigh helps people understand difficult issues and she’s open to understanding difficult issues as well. She’s someone that you can count on. If you need Haileigh to show up, she is there,” Williams shares.
Haleigh credits her family, particularly her mother for pushing her and inspiring her to work hard to accomplish her goals. “My mother has always inspired me. Sometimes she pushes me more than I’d like, but she pushes me to always do my best, even if it’s not the best, as long as it’s my best. She taught me to always help others, to not be selfish, to always want to give and have a giving heart,” she says.
An Academic Honor Roll student, Swing Choir participant, Early College Scholar (earned at least 15 college credits while in high school), a recipient of the Governor’s Seal, a Young Life organization member and a BETA Club member, Haileigh is devoted. “My life motto is: “Don’t be afraid.” Fear doesn’t do much for you positively. The world is big, the world is scary, but you can’t be afraid, or you’ll never get anything done,” she encourages.
As she prepares to head to North Carolina A&T, Haileigh says, “It’s truly just the beginning of a new chapter of her life because she vows to keep empowering, uplifting and inspiring others, by living a life of fearlessness herself.
“I’m really glad that Ms. Sullivan nominated me. She is overly sweet. We have always had a good relationship and I’m just very thankful to have her as a guidance counselor,” says Haleigh.
Tags: Community, public schools
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