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Wooten named Student of the Year for Community Involvement
Feb 26, 2014 8:21 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Senior Kataeya Wooten has been named Rome Noon Optimist Club Student of the Year in the category of Community Involvement.
"Leo Tolstoy, master of the modern novel, once said, 'Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.' But, I disagree," Wooten said to Student of the Year banquet attendees. "When we close our eyes and daydream in the early morning, what comes to mind are visions of self-improvement, of a better life much different from the one we lead, where anything is possible and we are dragon-slayers or superhuman. The wish to change is widespread. What most people lack is the will power, the courage, to really get off their couch and mold themselves into the person they've always wanted to be through education, community involvement or whatever daily practice it may require."
Wooten is an Elson S. Floyd Scholar, an AP Scholar, an Admission Tiger Expert, social liaison for Regester House and a servant leader. She enjoys serving her community, and is spearheading the senior class service project -- a Sweetheart Dance for the residents of Winthrop Court Senior Living this Thursday. She has also been an active volunteer at McHenry Primary School, the Open Door Home and the Boys & Girls Club, among others.
“Get involved. As a senior, I’ve heard those two words repeated over, and over, and over again by different voices of various backgrounds. I believe that the words we don’t hear enough are 'make something of yourself' or 'become a better person,'" Wooten said. "Notice the verbs there? 'Make.' 'Become.' Ambiguous terms that imply a continuous action.
"Sometimes we stagnate, stop growing, because we falsely believe we've reached some pinnacle of achievement or ideal self that cannot be improved upon," she continued. "It's hard, but to be successful, productive individuals, we must break out of the detrimental school of thought that proclaims the sky to be the absolute limit and do something we’re never done before. Be fearless and discard self-doubt. Learn something by joining a new club, making a new friend or donating your time to someone who needs it."
Wooten was named an Outstanding Participant in the 2014 National Achievement Scholarship Program after scoring in the top 3% of more than 160,000 black Americans who took the PSAT. A member of the Headmaster's List, she is a recipient of the Rhodes College Book Award, the St. Lawrence Book Award, The Inkslinger Adviser's Award and the E.L. Wright Award for Yearbook. She is the daughter of KaTriena Wooten of Cartersville, Ga.
"If we aim for the stars or even beyond that point, we have the potential to become to these beautiful, ethereal human beings that transcend restriction from societal, familial or even personal expectations," Wooten said. "If we actively improve ourselves, taking advantage of every God-given minute of the day, of every fortuitous opportunity, we can grow in ways that we never thought were possible.
"Through volunteer work and general community involvement, I’ve been able to take just a few more steps down the long, long road of realizing my full potential and becoming the very best person I can be," she continued. "I want to be a writer, not for the sake of achieving a vain self-pleasing glory, but to communicate these ideas globally: You can change your future. You are not alone. We are all essentially the same."
"Leo Tolstoy, master of the modern novel, once said, 'Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.' But, I disagree," Wooten said to Student of the Year banquet attendees. "When we close our eyes and daydream in the early morning, what comes to mind are visions of self-improvement, of a better life much different from the one we lead, where anything is possible and we are dragon-slayers or superhuman. The wish to change is widespread. What most people lack is the will power, the courage, to really get off their couch and mold themselves into the person they've always wanted to be through education, community involvement or whatever daily practice it may require."
Wooten is an Elson S. Floyd Scholar, an AP Scholar, an Admission Tiger Expert, social liaison for Regester House and a servant leader. She enjoys serving her community, and is spearheading the senior class service project -- a Sweetheart Dance for the residents of Winthrop Court Senior Living this Thursday. She has also been an active volunteer at McHenry Primary School, the Open Door Home and the Boys & Girls Club, among others.
“Get involved. As a senior, I’ve heard those two words repeated over, and over, and over again by different voices of various backgrounds. I believe that the words we don’t hear enough are 'make something of yourself' or 'become a better person,'" Wooten said. "Notice the verbs there? 'Make.' 'Become.' Ambiguous terms that imply a continuous action.
"Sometimes we stagnate, stop growing, because we falsely believe we've reached some pinnacle of achievement or ideal self that cannot be improved upon," she continued. "It's hard, but to be successful, productive individuals, we must break out of the detrimental school of thought that proclaims the sky to be the absolute limit and do something we’re never done before. Be fearless and discard self-doubt. Learn something by joining a new club, making a new friend or donating your time to someone who needs it."
Wooten was named an Outstanding Participant in the 2014 National Achievement Scholarship Program after scoring in the top 3% of more than 160,000 black Americans who took the PSAT. A member of the Headmaster's List, she is a recipient of the Rhodes College Book Award, the St. Lawrence Book Award, The Inkslinger Adviser's Award and the E.L. Wright Award for Yearbook. She is the daughter of KaTriena Wooten of Cartersville, Ga.
"If we aim for the stars or even beyond that point, we have the potential to become to these beautiful, ethereal human beings that transcend restriction from societal, familial or even personal expectations," Wooten said. "If we actively improve ourselves, taking advantage of every God-given minute of the day, of every fortuitous opportunity, we can grow in ways that we never thought were possible.
"Through volunteer work and general community involvement, I’ve been able to take just a few more steps down the long, long road of realizing my full potential and becoming the very best person I can be," she continued. "I want to be a writer, not for the sake of achieving a vain self-pleasing glory, but to communicate these ideas globally: You can change your future. You are not alone. We are all essentially the same."
