This week’s senior spotlight focuses on an integral part of the senior class: Griffin Wingfield. Arriving at RMA as a freshman and a recipient of the Ann Weaver Scholarship, he immediately made an impact on the class. Excelling in most aspects of life, Griffin is somewhat a golden boy for the 2020 class. Even while socially isolating, Griffin finds a way to be there for his classmates and give his all to his school work as well. Ben Tucker, who’s been with Griffin since second grade, said this about his friend and classmate: “Griffin is someone who seems pretty lame at first, but he’s super fun to hang around and is somehow honest and caring at the same time. He’s a pretty cool slime overall.” As a class, we are lucky to have had Griffin join us in ninth grade and we are much stronger and more well-rounded for it. 

Griffin is constantly setting new goals for himself, be it in the classroom or on a sporting field. His favorite class has been Ecology, a very popular class, with Dr. Wells. With his impressive class schedule including AP Psych, AP Stats, AP Bio, AP US, and AP Euro, it is a wonder that Griffin finds the time and energy for extracurriculars, and yet he excels at many. For the majority of his high school career, he has been an important part of RMA’s varsity baseball and soccer teams, helping secure the title of state champions his junior year. He has won the JV Soccer Offensive Coach’s Award, Varsity Soccer Offensive MVP, and Varsity Baseball Coach’s Award. When he isn’t participating in these activities, he loves to spend time with his friends and family. With his friends, he loves to rock fish on the river and have a shop night with the boys. Griffin is also very involved with his family, and he loves to spend time with them just hanging out. His favorite thing to do with his family is to have a home-cooked meal on their back porch in the summertime. When he isn’t with friends and family, he says that he can be found “huntin,’ fishin’, and lovin’ everyday.”

In the future, once he’s graduated college, Griffin knows what he wants, because it is what he’s passionate about. He hopes to work in the land management field. Whether that be with prescribed burning, wildlife habitat systems, or grading land, he’s not sure, but he’s sure to be successful. In the fall, Griffin will be going to Wake Tech and then he will be transferring to NC State to study Forestry. 

No matter where Griffin’s future takes him, the class of 2020 knows without a doubt that he will excel. Griffin’s compassion and accepting nature have made our grade’s high school experience happier and more enjoyable. When asking around about Griffin, his friends had a lot to say. Jackson Bryant commented, “Since Griffin came to RMA in 9th grade, he’s always been a good friend and fun to hang out with.” Another one of his best friends, Caleb Chesis, says, “Griffin always knows how to make me laugh and I love taking him hunting in deer and turkey season. He always tells me I’m the best hunting guide. He is hilarious and is always there for me whenever I need him, and I’m glad I’ve known him these last few years. YESSIR!” The class of 2020 would not be the same without Griffin and we are all so thankful that he decided to come to RMA freshman year. 

To learn more about Griffin, read below!

• Who is your favorite musical artist? Riley Green is definitely my favorite artist. If I could be one person, it would be him too. He lives the life!

• What is your favorite hobby? Hunting is by far my favorite hobby. I’m in the woods every chance I get.

• What will you miss most about RMA? Definitely my friends and coaches. Especially Coach Berry!

• What is one thing you’ve learned from the way your senior year was interrupted? As aggravating as school work can be, I would give anything to go back to school with my friends. Don’t take time spent with friends for granted!

• Who is your greatest role model? My greatest role model is definitely my dad. Seeing his hard work has definitely influenced me to have a strong work ethic. 

• Where do you see yourself in ten years? In ten years, I see myself living somewhere outside of town, down a long driveway lined by pecan trees, in a white house with a wrap around porch. 

• Where is one place you hope to travel before you die? I want to go on a duck hunting trip in South Dakota.

• If you had three wishes what would you wish for? I wish the coronavirus would go away, I wish I could have a graduation, and I wish baseball season wasn’t cancelled.

• What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is probably The King with Timothee Chalamet. Highly recommended. It’s on Netflix by the way.

• What is something not many people know about you? One thing most people probably don’t know about me is that I can draw pretty well.