Annsley Wallace wants to dedicate her life to helping others.
The Hooper Academy senior has made strides towards making that dream come true: She’s received more than $2.5 million in scholarships so far from the over 65 colleges and universities she’s applied to attend.
Her top choice for now is Troy University. She wants to work in the medical field, and she’s narrowed her goals to majoring in kinesiology and going on to to work in physical therapy.
Other schools she’s been accepted to include Albion College, University of Tampa, Azusa Pacific University and University of Alabama.
“So, planning to go to Troy in the fall and majoring in kinesiology and then go on to some physical therapy school,” she said. “I’m not quite sure where I want to go for that. And, then… just open my own practice and go from there.”
Wallace knew at a young age that she wanted to go into the medical field. First, she wanted to be a nurse. Then, she wanted to be a doctor before she settled into the physical therapy path.
Wallace said opening her own practice someday will allow her to run the practice the way she sees fit. She wants to have a good reputation and have her name out in the world.
Her principal and guidance counselor emphasized that Wallace is one of the most positive young people they have worked with in their time as educators.
Toni Kilpatrick, her guidance counselor, has known Wallace since she was little, and she taught Wallace’s stepmother at another school. Wallace’s disposition, she said, has been a constant.
“This child is probably one of the happiest, most delightful kids that you’ll ever be around,” Kilpatrick said.
Kilpatrick said Wallace is in the running for valedictorian.
“She’s been taking all of her regular classes at school, plus at least two dual enrollment classes per semester, on top of cheerleading and basketball,” she said. “She’s highly motivated, to say the least.”
Kilpatrick added that Wallace won the Distinguished Young Women Competition, a scholarship program, among others. She was also the Alabama Girls State Representative her junior year.
Liz Norman first met Wallace when she joined the school as a principal around five years ago.
Like Kilpatrick, she said that the thing that most stands out about Wallace is her positive attitude.
“She is just always smiling,” she said.
When she first heard about how many scholarships Wallace had received, Norman said she was not surprised. Wallace has both the ability and willpower to go after them.
“But also she is very determined…” she said. “I think that she certainly has the abilities that would allow her to get the scholarships and also the determination to apply, and she’s a very well rounded student.”
Norman said Wallace’s future is “limitless,” and she will be able to accomplish anything she chooses to do.
“She’s gonna make the world a better place,” she said.
Jemma Stephenson is the children and education reporter. Follow her on Twitter at @jk_stephenson.
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