Grace Reese is the Student of the Month for November. Grace has been attending Kilgore High School for four years, during which her biggest challenges have been balancing work, school, and home life along with multiple extracurricular activities.

These bumps in the road don’t diminish Grace’s happiness to be
a KHS student. She’s proud to be welcomed here and finally receive recognition from her peers. She also receives recognition from teachers, one of whom is her favorite teacher Brandi Parrish.

“Mrs. Parrish has been there for me in so many ways. From someone to talk to (she gives great advice), school, and church, she is there,” Reese said.

Reese’s favorite school activity is Band because she loves learning music and marching at the halftime shows at football games. She says the band brings excitement into her life when she feels down. So far, her favorite high school memory is when she ripped her band uniform pants at a late November game during her freshman year.

“I was so cold, and I marched with ripped pants,” Reese said.

Currently, Grace works at Dairy Queen in Kilgore and says this is

her favorite out-of-school activity. “Having a job has taught me

time management, independence, honest hard work, and so much more,” Reese said.

When she has spare time, Reese works her brain with strategic activities, like doing puzzles, or gives herself a well- deserved break and takes a nap. In order to be Student of the Month, there are important qualities, and Reese has them.

“I am caring and loving. I constantly put others above myself, and if you need help I am there. I’m also hardworking and involved in many things,” Reese said.

After high school, Grace plans to attend SFA in the fall of 2024.

“I visited the school a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. They have an amazing pathway for education,” Reese said.

She plans on majoring in elementary education and plans to be an elementary teacher. In ten years, Reese hopes to be settled in her career and starting a family.

“I don’t know all that lies ahead for me, but I trust in God’s plan,” Reese said.

Her biggest fear about graduating is what the world will hold for her after graduation

because she’ll be on her own. Although her senior year is

coming slowly to an end, she still has time to cherish the memories she has made here.

She’ll miss the PASS class most because she has worked hard with the students for the past three years. She’d also made bonds with the teachers in the class that she hopes she can pursue in the future.

Reese loves to participate in SAFFE Day, an event that Kilgore hosts downtown every year. It’s her favorite community service activity she’s ever done.

“It doesn’t feel like I am doing any hard work with helping out with the kids,” Reese said.

Reese has not had an easy life. If she could talk to anyone, dead or alive, she would talk to her father.

“He passed away in 2018. I would ask him for answers to all the questions he said he would tell me later,” Reese said.

But, she perseveres. Grace lives by one quote.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

~ Cadence Trimble