by Jeremiah Hatcher
The Paducah Sun
December 4, 2024
Used with permission.
Cassidy Minter, a Paducah Tilghman High School senior and this week’s Murray State University Teen of the Week, aspires to be an educational leader in her community.
Minter’s high school achievements include a diverse group of clubs, activities, and awards. She has been a member of the African American Leadership Club, PT Page Turners, PTHS Marching Band, choir, and cheer squad. Minter is member of PaxtonScholars Class XIV, has earned the Berea Woodson Scholar Award, and is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
Minter said her involvement in many organizations stems from the question she has asked herself many times over her high school years: “What is it that you wish to achieve in life?”
“Once I entered high school, I realized that hard work, staying on task, and being open to new ideas and opportunities were all the things that would help me to reach my goals and set a clearer path for my future,” Minter said. “Each of these clubs, organizations, teams, and academic honors have all played a part in enriching my academic success and growth within my community.”
Minter plans to attend Murray State University, where she will pursue a degree in early childhood and elementary education. She also plans to minor in social sciences.
Minter said her experience in elementary and middle school inspired her to follow that career pathway. She believes education is crucial in the early years of a student’s life, saying “there’s a lot of development that has to happen,” including the development of motor skills through writing and drawing, speech and language skills, and social and emotional development.
After college, Minter wants to work as an educator in Paducah.
“That’s where I was raised, and I feel like we push a lot of people out to do better things and get out of the state and pursue bigger and better things,” Minter said. “I feel like Paducah and Kentucky as a whole, like, investing needs to come into it, and the investments we put into our, like, children. Sometimes, when they come back, they help raise the next generation with the culture of Kentucky.”
Ashley Adkins, an assistant principal at PTHS, commends Minter for her academic and community service dedication. She said Minter regularly volunteers for the Salvation Army, where she selflessly gives back. Adkins also praises Minter’s work ethic and adaptability at her after-school job.
Adkins said Minter’s characteristics make her a well-liked student, friend, and aspiring professional.
“I have no doubt she will excel in her future endeavors and inspire others along the way,” Adkins said. “Cassidy is a young woman with a spark that lights up any room she enters. Her resilience, leadership, and commitment to her community are qualities that will undoubtedly make her a valuable addition to any college.”
Minter wants her peers to know that they should never quit when times get hard. She said whether you are struggling mentally, emotionally, or physically, keeping a positive outlook on your challenges can help you get through them — something she knows all too well.
“During my sophomore year of high school, I had a few things happen familywise that was very difficult to navigate through,” Minter said. “If someone looked at my current transcript, they could tell that really affected me educationally. But I knew that time wasn’t going to stop, and I needed to push through it. Following that next quarter, I got my grades back up, and I continued trying to push through the school year and be a good student like I knew I could be.”