This week I am very excited to be able to write a senior spotlight on my best friend (and likely future billionaire) Joe Cockrell. I met Joe on one of my very first days when I came to Rocky Mount Academy in first grade and we’ve been friends ever since. Joe is a fun person to be around and I am sure that everyone who knows him in and out of school would agree.

In school, Joe challenges himself in many different classes. He is very involved in the arts and takes rigorous English classes. This year he is taking AP English with Ms. Baker and  he’s also taken AP Bio, Honors Precalculus . Over the course of his time at Rocky Mount Academy, Joe has taken numerous drama and music classes, where he is very talented with the guitar. Joe has appeared in starring roles for nearly all of the school plays, stealing a spot in Scooby Doo as Shaggy, Mr. Tumnus in Narnia, and more recently as Doody the Greaser in the very popular play Grease! Joe’s work in the drama department even goes outside of school. Over the summers he acted in the play School of Rock and the Hobbit at the Imperial Center.

Since I first met Joe, he has been interested in the Arts and especially with film. If I’m remembering correctly, we first became friends because of our love of Star Wars. I quickly found out that if you needed to know anything about a movie, you could ask Joe. Throughout the years, he has grown his knowledge and for a while ran a Youtube channel with in-depth movie reviews. It would be no surprise to me if he became the next star director for a hit blockbuster.

No matter where he goes, Joe would be an amazing addition to the campus. He is slow to make friends but great at keeping them. Wherever life takes him, I’m sure it will be someplace tremendous. Keep watching the credits of those movies. Someday Joe’s name will be up front and center.

To find out more about Joe, check out the interview below!

1. What is your favorite class at RMA? Your least favorite? My favorite class in general has got to be Ms. Whitehurst’s Drama class because I have so many fond memories in that class.  My favorite academic class was Dr. K’s middle school science class. My least favorite class is probably any high school science class(ironic, I know). Even if I like the teacher, the subject just doesn’t interest me.
2. What are you planning on studying in college? I plan on majoring in Film Studies.
3. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? That’s hard to say.  Hopefully doing something I enjoy, living in a place I like, and being overall happy.
4. What are some of your pet peeves? My biggest pet peeve is when people try too hard to be part of the “in” crowd and go out of their way to get the approval of other people.  I think people should just be themselves and not really care what anyone else thinks.
5. What is your favorite show on Netflix? Probably Daredevil.  Being a big fan of the comic-book genre, it’s exactly what I wanted a show about that character to be.
6. What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment would be getting an interview at UNC School of the Arts.  Even though I didn’t get in, it is still a very prestigious school and it was an honor that they even considered me.
7. What is something many people don’t know about you? I have two older half siblings, one of which attended and graduated RMA.  I also have two nieces, who are 4 and 7 years old.
8. What will you miss most about RMA? I will miss the people.  From Mr. Hester telling me good morning in the middle of the afternoon to Mr. Stone telling me I’m going to fail right after complimenting me on my good grades to Mr. Leonard genuinely pulling off socks and sandals to Macie running up and hugging me everyday to Ms. Whitehurst showering me with motherly love and affection, to my friend group acting out (Cameron scrambling to get his homework done, Davis arguing with the teachers but they can’t argue back because he has a legitimate point, Joseph never having any clue what is going on, Johnhenry breaking whatever he touches without even trying, Mark being one of the quietest people I know but having one of the loudest minds, and of course my best bro Elias always trying to cheer people up and bringing out the best in everyone).
9. If you could go anywhere or do anything, what would it be and why? I would go home and spend time with my family.
10. What is one piece of advice you have for the underclassmen? Just be yourself.  Who cares what all the jocks, cheerleaders, prom queens, and extrovert-types think?  Everyone matters, so just be who you want to be, and don’t let anyone else change that.