Teen of the Week: Waterford junior works to lift others
Taylor Starkey smiles for the camera in a recent picture. (Photo Provided)
Taylor Starkey celebrates Waterford High School’s 2022 state championship win. (Photo Provided)
Taylor Starkey (front row, third person from left) attended a 4 H Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. (Photo Provided)
Waterford Cross Country Team, from left, Jyllian Lee, Kaylie McCutcheon, Taylor Starkey, Ava Hurley, Emma Schaad and Gracie Hartline. (Photo Provided)
Taylor Starkey is paddling at Sea Camp on Kelly’s Island in Lake Erie. (Photo Provided)
FFA Parliamentary Procedure Team, from left, Kaylie McCutcheon, Taylor Starkey, Lanee Heiss, Katelynn Valandingham, Allison Huck, and McKenzie Farmer. (Photo Provided)
Taylor Starkey smiles for the camera in a recent picture. (Photo Provided)
Taylor Starkey celebrates Waterford High School’s 2022 state championship win. (Photo Provided)
Taylor Starkey (front row, third person from left) attended a 4 H Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. (Photo Provided)
Waterford Cross Country Team, from left, Jyllian Lee, Kaylie McCutcheon, Taylor Starkey, Ava Hurley, Emma Schaad and Gracie Hartline. (Photo Provided)
Taylor Starkey is paddling at Sea Camp on Kelly’s Island in Lake Erie. (Photo Provided)
FFA Parliamentary Procedure Team, from left, Kaylie McCutcheon, Taylor Starkey, Lanee Heiss, Katelynn Valandingham, Allison Huck, and McKenzie Farmer. (Photo Provided)
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WATERFORD -- Waterford High School junior Taylor Starkey enjoys uplifting others and expressing her creativity.
This past fall, Starkey joined the school's FFA Parliamentary Procedure team. It's a career event through FFA that teaches students how to run business meetings based on the book "Robert's Rules of Order."
The team placed fifth in the state competition Dec. 9 at the Delaware Area Career Center.
"I wanted to try something new. I get to test my public speaking skills," she said. "We have to say the right thing at the right time."
Other school related activities Starkey is involved in are two years of cross country, two years of track, and three years as the student manager of the girls' basketball team.
"I take care of the girls' well-being; I am their cheerleader. I get to make sure they are okay," she said.
Starkey traveled with the team to Dayton in 2022 for the Division IV State Championship when Waterford defeated New Knoxville 35-26.
"I got a state ring for the win," Starkey said.
Academically, Starkey describes herself as a high performer. Her GPA is 3.9. To expand her knowledge, she enjoys reading both in and out of the classroom.
"I love English and reading," she said. "I love learning about new things."
For school, Starkey said she enjoyed Shakespeare's "MacBeth" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. Her personal favorite genres are thrillers and fantasy. Her favorite recent reads are "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros and "The Couple Next Door" by Shari Lapena.
Starkey is also the editor of the school newspaper, which publishes either once a week or every two weeks.
"We write about fun stuff we do around the school, sporting events and current events," she said.
Starkey has worked with the paper for three years and said she enjoys having an outlet to express herself.
"I really enjoy writing," she said. "This gives me a platform to express my thoughts. It's really gratifying."
This also ties into Stakey's long-term career goals: communications and broadcasting. She said her interest started by making home movies with her cousins.
"I would edit them in iMovie," she said. "I became a master at it."
Another activity Starkey enjoys is participating in the Bull's-Eye 4 H club for the past 10 years. She's gone to summer camp at Camp Hervida since second grade and has been a camp counselor for four years.
"I love teaching the kids new songs and dances," she said. "We also teach them new skills. Camp is where you can be creative and fun."
Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com