BROWNSTOWN
Emma Winks is one of the 140 seniors graduating from Brownstown Central High School this weekend.
Winks was a member of the school’s track and cross country teams as well as FFA, 4-H and National Honor Society.
Winks said her favorite subject in school was history, specifically U.S. history.
“I love history because it can teach us many lessons. We can learn from past failures or successes and use them to reshape our future,” she said.
While Winks enjoyed history, she did not feel as warmly about math.
“Throughout my entire school career, math has always been the subject that was the most difficult for me to understand,” she said. “I don’t see any logic in math, so it is hard for me to work my way through a problem.”
Winks gave credit to Maria Conklin, a Brownstown Central science teacher and coach of the school’s track and cross country teams, as someone who had a big impact on her.
“Conklin had a huge impact on me because she is a passionate teacher and a dedicated coach,” Winks said. “If I had an AP chemistry question, she always knew what to say to help me understand. Likewise, when I needed a little extra motivation on the cross country course, she always knew what to tell me to make me push myself during a race. Lastly, Conklin is very encouraging and chooses to look on the bright side of any situation.”
Winks will be attending Indiana State University on a rural health scholarship. She is premed and majoring in biology with a medical lab focus. After she gets her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend the Indiana University Medical School.
While Winks looks forward to attending college, she said she will miss a few characteristics of Brownstown Central.
“I am really going to miss the small-town feel,” she said. “Brownstown offers opportunities for students to build relationships with their teachers, coaches and classmates. Also, the community is very supportive of students and athletic events.”
While Winks was disappointed to learn graduation festivities would not be taking place as they usually do, she was able to see the bright side of the situation.
“When I first learned about the changes, I was distraught. I was upset because I had looked forward to my high school graduation for many years,” she said. “After a few days of being angry, I finally decided to see the silver lining. I kept telling myself, ‘Maybe this is a good thing. I don’t have to worry about messing up my graduation speech in front of hundreds of people or tripping during the senior walk.
“Once I accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to have a proper graduation and chose to look on the bright side, I wasn’t upset anymore,” she said. “I actually became appreciative because I realized everything the school was doing to make our graduation special.”
Winks and the rest of Brownstown Central’s graduating senior class will take part in a virtual ceremony Saturday. The video will be uploaded by the school to Facebook and YouTube at 10 a.m., and it will feature speeches from Winks and other students.
There also will be a parade to celebrate the graduates in Brownstown later that day at 1 p.m.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Winks file” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Emma Winks
Age: 18
Residence: Tampico
School: Brownstown Central High School
School activities: FFA, National Honor Society, track and field, cross country, 4-H
Future plans: Attend Indiana State University for premed and majoring in biology with a medical lab focus; then she plans to attend the Indiana University Medical School
Family: Parents, Mike and Shannon Winks
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What: Brownstown Central High School graduation
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Parade will leave from the school, travel along Bridge and Ewing Streets to Commerce Street, then turn onto Main Street and go back toward Bridge Street to the school
Who: 140 members of the Class of 2020
Online: A virtual graduation ceremony will be uploaded by the school to Facebook and YouTube at 10 a.m.
[sc:pullout-text-end]