Emily Camlet, Vice President of the senior class, a member of the Girl's Soccer team, and Miss NBTHS 2022 has accomplished a lot in her 4 years at NBTHS. She has developed trust in her capabilities and learned to reach for her goals while balancing her academics and social life. This is a key factor in her enjoyment of her time here at the high school. As a fan of public speaking, it is fitting that she was selected to be the Senior Class Speaker this year.
What advice would you give to younger students?
I’d tell younger students to remember that not every chance will lead to success, but every success comes from taking a chance. This is really important to keep in mind at all points in life, but especially in high school. This is the time to take chances. You might not always achieve your end goal, but there’s no way of knowing if you don’t take a chance! I can attribute many of my successes from high school to just taking a chance and seeing what would happen. It never hurts to try, whether that be for a test or homework assignment, or for an opportunity like holding class office, making new connections, or entering a writing contest. Even when it seems like a door has closed, you still have every opportunity to take a chance and reopen that door or open another one entirely.
If you could give one piece of advice to yourself as a freshman, what would it be?
I’d tell myself to keep things in perspective and don’t sweat the small things. What may seem like an unconquerable challenge at the time might not really be as bad as it seems at the moment. In regard to the small negative moments, I’d want my freshman self to remember, “If it won’t matter five years from now, don’t spend more than five minutes worrying about it.” I’ve come to learn that this will save anyone from unnecessary stress and preoccupation.
Who inspired, encouraged, or guided you throughout your journey at NBTHS?
There are many who have encouraged me during my time at NBTHS. I wouldn’t be where I am without my family and all of my teachers of course, but I think I was encouraged and inspired most by Mrs. Eaton-Mercado and Mr. Burgess. They not only helped me continue to grow as a writer, but they also helped me learn to appreciate the small miracles you encounter every day. They both guided me by teaching me to be comfortable with the uncomfortable; after all, you’ll have to do this for the rest of your life. In fact, I experienced the same type of guidance from my dance teachers and soccer coaches, who all helped me see just how much more I could accomplish simply by stepping out of my comfort zone.
What are your goals during and after college?
My goals always seem to change as I go through changes in life, so it’s hard to set a solid plan for what I want to accomplish in college and beyond. I think the beauty about setting goals is that you can revise them as you go through changes, learn more, and acquire new skills. However, one thing I can say for sure is that during college, I want to be exposed to new subjects so I can find new passions and keep learning. After college, I hope to find a job doing something I love and continue to build and nurture new and existing relationships.
What college are you planning to attend and what will be your major?
I’ll be attending Drew University, where I’ll also be on the women’s soccer team. I don’t know what I want to major in yet, but I do know that I’d like to minor in dance and in Italian.
What inspired you to want be Senior Speaker at the school?
I knew I wanted to be the Senior Speaker since I was a freshman because I’ve always been fond of public speaking. I’ve been told I have a way with words, and I feel that with the right words, you can say something that leaves a positive and lasting impact on someone.
Do you regret NOT doing anything in life so far?
Thankfully, no. I don’t regret not doing anything in life so far. I’ve done so much and I’m proud of who I am and what I’ve done. I’ve tried new things and experiences while still devoting time to all of my current activities, so I certainly have no regrets for not doing anything. However, I do wish I could have more time to keep enjoying the good things I’ve achieved in recent years before we move on to the next big thing!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I want to have a job that I love to do and also allows me time to do everything else I want to do. A balance between my career and personal life is really important to me, and if I can achieve this in ten years, I will feel successful regardless of the number on my paycheck.
What was your favorite memory of your time at NBTHS?
This might sound cheesy, but there’s really so many. Overall, my high school years treated me well. I appreciate the small but important memories of spending time with my closest friends and really creating a positive name for myself. I also have a special appreciation for our SGO and class events, like PowderPuff and our senior cookout. If I did have to pick a favorite memory, I’d say it’s a tie between serving as our class Vice President for all four years, singing in Honors Choir, and winning Miss NBTHS. Each of these memories are unique and I believe a good reflection of who I am as a person, and I’m very thankful to have made these memories at NBTHS.
What struggles did you have getting to where you are in life now? Please describe.
I’ve had a few. On the surface, it might look like I’ve sailed through life without a hitch, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I struggled with self-doubt where I felt like I truly wasn’t good enough for what I’ve done and was unable to handle immense tasks that I thought I should. There were plenty of days where I felt that no matter what I did, I’d still be at least two steps behind, unable to improve or make progress. Over time, I have learned that success takes time and in order to get there, you have to trust yourself. I see where I am now and what I have done and I think I would have made myself from years ago proud for choosing to stick with what I do and know that I am worthy of doing it. I can look back and be at peace with this struggle because I overcame it and have learned to trust my abilities.