Caldwell senior aspires to teach others
(Photo Provided) From left, Shenandoah High School teacher Shon Miller, Hunter Parks and Jordan Spence, network regional coordinator from Building Bridges to Careers, celebrate the start of Hunter’s internship in spring 2023.
(Photo Provided) Parks poses for his senior picture at Caldwell High School’s football field. He played wide receiver.
(Photo Provided) Hunter Parks listens to coach Justin Erb during a baseball game in spring 2023.
(Photo Provided) Dominic Fry, Hunter Parks, Kyler Start, and J.R. Curry watch the action during a spring 2023 baseball game.
(Photo Provided) Parks poses with his parents Stacy and Brian, after being inducted into the National Honor Society.
(Photo Provided) From left, Shenandoah High School teacher Shon Miller, Hunter Parks and Jordan Spence, network regional coordinator from Building Bridges to Careers, celebrate the start of Hunter’s internship in spring 2023.
(Photo Provided) Parks poses for his senior picture at Caldwell High School’s football field. He played wide receiver.
(Photo Provided) Hunter Parks listens to coach Justin Erb during a baseball game in spring 2023.
(Photo Provided) Dominic Fry, Hunter Parks, Kyler Start, and J.R. Curry watch the action during a spring 2023 baseball game.
(Photo Provided) Parks poses with his parents Stacy and Brian, after being inducted into the National Honor Society.
Trending
CALDWELL -- Caldwell High School senior Hunter Parks aspires to educate the next generation by reliving the past.
Parks, 18, is a full-time education student at Washington State College of Ohio through the College Credit Plus program, which allows students to obtain college credits while still in high school.
Parks said he decided to attend the program at Washington State due to family experience.
"My sister and brother did it, and they got a head start on college," he said. "So I decided to do it, too."
Parks said he aims to become a history teacher, inspired by one of his own teachers.
"For ninth-grade history, I had Jody Singleton," he said. "She made history fun. We do a lot of hands-on projects. We did lectures and group work, too."
Last spring, Parks worked with teacher Shon Miller at Shenandoah High School in a paid internship through Building Bridges to Careers in Marietta.
"I would go through old state tests and match them up to the current education standards. Then I would help the students study based on those," he said.
He also taught the class a lesson on the Warsaw ghettos from World War II. He said the experience was beneficial for future endeavors.
Parks said his favorite time in history to study is Ancient Egypt.
"The pharaohs were really cool. I think their religion is interesting with the different gods. They were really advanced for their time," he said.
Parks said teaching is an ideal career for him because of his personality.
"I have a lot of compassion for students and enjoy being around them," he said, "Washington State teaches us to treat the students with respect."
Outside the classroom, Parks is a member of the Caldwell High School baseball team. He said he's played the sport since age 5.
"I like the laid back feel of the sport and the discipline," he said. "You learn to be patient."
Parks' favorite sports-related memory has to do with one of his teammates.
"He was in right field. He doesn't get to play often. He caught a ball out there. Then the next time he was at bat, he got a home run," he said.
Parks' college plans depend on one major decision.
"It depends if I play baseball for college or not. If I don't, I'll go to WVUP (West Virginia University at Parkersburg). If I do, I have a few schools I'm talking to," he said.
For now, Hunter has a few goals to accomplish on his list.
"I'd like to make the president's list for academics and reach the regional championships with Caldwell," he said.