Texas High School
After graduating from Texas High School, Nealy Kate Anderson plans to attend the University of Texas and pursue a psychology degree. Then, she hopes to continue her education in graduate school to achieve her goal of becoming a sports psychologist. “They specialize in the mental aspect of athletes and athletic programs. I find this very interesting because I am an athlete and love helping people work through issues and understand their emotions,” Nealy Kate says. “One day, I hope to open my own practice or be an on-site psychologist for a professional sports team.”
Nealy Kate feels prepared for the journey ahead due to her opportunities at Texas High School. Though many of these opportunities were academic, she also learned skills that will help her be successful in all areas of life. “I have learned to be a leader, manage my time, get involved, and work with others to complete projects and events. These are all things that I will continue to use in the future,” Nealy Kate says. “From the academic standpoint, Texas High has many different classes open to everyone. You can further your education in the best ways possible.”
Texas High School also offers a variety of clubs and organizations that help students build on their interests and create lasting friendships. Nealy Kate is involved in cross country, cheer, student council, leadership, Rosebuds, Mu Alpha Theta, journalism, Quill and Scroll, and the National Honor Society. “I am our Senior Class Treasurer in student council and the Varsity Cheer Captain as well as a Senior Squad Leader. I am also the senior sports editor for our yearbook,” Nealy Kate says. “In addition, I earned the title of Homecoming Queen and am the Campaign Manager for the Texas High Student Council. We are running for Vice President of the Texas Association of Student Councils.”
Texas High also provides students with opportunities to give back to their community, and Nealy Kate has enjoyed volunteering with the Community Cafe at Williams Memorial Church. “I’ve been involved with Community Cafe for four years,” Nealy Kate says. This event is important to me because it reaches and helps people in the community who need it the most.”
Though she has many achievements, Nealy Kate is most proud of earning the Cheer Captain position for her junior and senior years. “I worked very hard to get to this position, and being a team leader is truly one of my passions. I love helping others, and having this title has allowed me to do that daily,” Nealy Kate says. “I wouldn’t be where I am without my cheer team and the people surrounding me. Earning this title has made me a better person today.”
Nealy Kate says that one of the best lessons she learned in high school came from her willingness to get involved and meet new people. “Getting to know people truly does matter, and forming a good, supportive group of friends can benefit you in many ways. When I go off to college, I plan to join different clubs and organizations to meet new people there as well,” Nealy Kate says. “I also learned that you must be kind because you never know when someone may need it the most. Being mean gets you absolutely nowhere, and it costs nothing to be kind.”
When she’s not at school, Nealy Kate loves to host friends at her home, which is something she learned from her mother, Carly Anderson. Nealy Kate says that her mom and dad, Turner Anderson, have always supported her. “My mom pushes me to be the best version of myself, but at the same time, she doesn’t put too much pressure on me. Instead, she lets me put the pressure on myself so that I stay motivated. Then, my dad is always there to make me laugh and keep my spirits high. He keeps me grounded and always ensures I have my stuff done,” Nealy Kate says. “Also, my parents have let our house become a hang-out place for all my friends; they allow anyone to come in at any time. This has impacted me and showed me how to treat others. I also love that my parents have become role models to kids who need them the most. They have set such a great example for me and what I want to be in the future.”
Nealy Kate is especially inspired by the example of her mother, who represents the strong, motivated, and caring woman she aspires to be. “She welcomes everyone into our home with open arms and no judgment, and she acts as a mother figure for any of my friends that need it,” Nealy Kate says. “On top of this, she has her own law firm and worked so hard to get there. She tackles all the obstacles in her way, and when she wants something, she goes for it.”
Carly Anderson’s passion for running has also inspired Nealy Kate. When her mom runs a race, Nealy Kate enjoys attending and supporting the runners. Then, when Carly served on the Dash 4 Cash committee, Nealy Kate helped her with planning and setting up. “I was also able to get some of the cheer team to come and cheer the runners on at Dash 4 Cash,” Nealy Kate says. “Another activity I look forward to is volunteering with the kids’ track program every summer. The program hosts practices and meets for little kids who want to run track in the future. I love doing this because working with kids is one of my favorite things. Also, helping them do something I have experience in is so much fun and creates an amazing bond between me and the kids.”
After finishing her education and reaching her goal of becoming a sports psychologist, Nealy Kate hopes she can build her own practice in Texas or start a career as a psychologist for a high school or professional sports team. “Besides completing my college degree, I also think that interning will help me achieve my goals. I hope to intern at a psychology practice to get good experience while narrowing down the details of exactly what I want to do,” Nealy Kate says. “In addition to this career goal, I also want to have a big family. I know that I will have to work hard to have both a psychology practice and a family, but I think to accomplish this, I will always keep a specific end goal in mind and always work hard towards it.”
Fun Facts:
1. My favorite teacher or coach in high school is Mrs.Waldrep because she has given me so many opportunities. Without her, I wouldn’t be where or who I am today.
2. The one piece of advice that I would give to high school freshmen is to get involved because the more you are involved, the more people you will meet, and more doors will open.
3. The one song that I will always associate with high school is “We’re All in This Together” from the movie High School Musical.
4. The most interesting thing about me that you wouldn’t learn from my high school resume or transcript is that I love having people over at my house, and everyone is always welcome.
5. In ten years, I hope to be a successful psychologist helping others because my goal is to positively impact other people’s lives.