Our Senior Spotlight for this issue is on Abbie Hooks! Abbie joined the RMA family her junior year of high school after leaving Faith Christian and being nominated for the Ann Weaver Scholarship. Abbie will tell you that she really prefers RMA over Faith, and we’re so glad because she has been a great addition to the RMA family with her friendly and bubbly personality!
Ending her high school career, Abbie is taking advantage of some of the best that RMA has to offer. She is challenging herself academically with Honors Calculus, AP English, and AP Environmental Science, and embracing her creative side with Ceramics II and Media Office. Finally, Abbie is one of our interns with the Exceptional Children’s program. (See her article about the Lower School EC trip to SeaWorld and Disney here.) At RMA, Abbie has had an excellent high school career, receiving awards such as Highest Achiever in Honors Chemistry and Highest Academic Average in Honors US History, and attaining honor roll her freshman and sophomore years.
Besides academics, Abbie has involved herself in many other worthwhile activities and organizations, including sports and clubs both inside and outside of school. Throughout high school, Abbie has played both tennis and basketball. Abbie plays number 1 seed for varsity tennis and has received 4 All-Conference Awards throughout high school for tennis and an All State award this year! In basketball, Abbie plays either center or forward on the varsity team and received an honorable mention her sophomore year. Outside of school, Abbie has been a Debuette since 9th grade, allowing her to participate in serving multiple organizations like Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Peacemakers. She also spends her time in the summer doing Gatekeepers Work Camp, fixing up numerous homes in Rocky Mount for the less fortunate, which she has done for the past 6 years. In Abbie’s free time, she enjoys cooking (her favorite thing to make is anything with chicken), working out, yoga, and playing tennis!
Thinking about the future, Abbie is applying to NC State, Meredith College, UNC-Wilmington, the University of South Carolina, and the ECU Honors College. She plans to major in Elementary Education, hoping to pursue a career in working with younger children. Abbie will tell you, “I have a passion for impacting children’s lives in a positive way, and I want to meet each student’s needs early, enabling them to find success throughout their educational journey.”
Get to know Abbie!
What is something nobody knows about you?
I am scared of cats.
Where is your favorite place and why?
My favorite place to go is Nags Head because I grew up going on family vacations there and I love the natural beauty of the Outer Banks.
What cafeteria item are you and why?
I am a chicken tender because I love chicken.
If you could be any teacher for the day, who would it be and why?
I would be Mrs. Keel so I could finally win trivia night at Westridge Grill.
What is your favorite school event?
My favorite school event was decorating for prom. I thought it was fun to work together as a class to plan a theme and then have a great time with the band at prom.
What will you miss about RMA?
I’ll miss seeing the EC Kids and the smaller children I babysit in the courtyard every day.
What is one lesson you learned at RMA?
I learned how to not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone and to not let fear take over my life.
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I see myself working in an elementary school somewhere in a coastal town.
