Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Pocahontas County High School junior Kevin Thompson has been named November Student of the Month.
As a junior, Thompson is close to the end of the high school tunnel and he has definitely had tunnel vision as he looks toward the future.
To focus on his education, Thompson has kept the number of extracurricular activities to a minimum.
“I was involved in some clubs my freshman year, like FBLA – Future Business Leaders of America – but I, unfortunately, don’t do any clubs anymore,” Thompson said. “I do however run the PCHS Warrior store during school hours – during breakfast and lunch. I also do the morning announcements every single morning and I help out anybody that I can when I see them.”
While he left clubs and sports behind, Thompson chose to continue his music education and is a member of the Warrior band and jazz band.
“I love playing in the band,” he said. “I’m also in the jazz band. I play keyboard – it’s my favorite instrument. When I was in the fourth grade, a woman named Lois Airgood was a teacher to the entire class for piano and that’s where I got my beginnings. Every since thing, I’ve worked on my own. I’ve never had anybody teach me. I’ve done a lot by ear. I can play piano by ear.”
Thompson’s talents become clear when he performs with the band – marching or concert – and the jazz band, but he doesn’t plan to become a musician. Instead, he is following a path he set for himself in middle school.
“I made these decisions when I was in eighth grade,” he said. “I would like to go to Marshall University and study business education. I thought about starting out being a business teacher and working my way up to principal position or to the board office.”
Thompson became interested in becoming an educator after he saw examples set for him by his teachers. He also enjoys speaking in front of classes and has a knack for giving presentations.
“I see what the teachers do and I’ve done presentations in front of my fellow students before and I kind of enjoy it,” he said.
When Thompson considers the question, “What does it mean to you to be a Warrior?,” his reply reflects the way he carries himself and how he lives his life every day.
“I think being a Warrior is to be strong-willed, very head strong, ready to go into anything, ready to take on any challenges that the world may give you,” he said.
