Abby Allred is a sophomore at McCracken County High School, she is 15 and was born and raised in Paducah Kentucky.  Abby says she joined Intro to Journalism, because she wants to do Yearbook next year, and she wants to be a part of something she knows she will enjoy.  In journalism, Abby is very excited to do a bunch of stuff in the class but says she is more excited and interested in writing about different subjects and meeting new people. “I am excited to get to know new people and talk to new people,” says Abby.   She considers herself an extrovert, and I would fully agree with what I have heard.  Abby says she considers herself an extrovert because “I talk to a lot of people, and when I see a person I will just randomly go up to them and start a conversation,” she also says,“I am full of energy, especially when I am around other people”. 

  It seems like Abby enjoys being around her family a lot.  When I asked her what she enjoyed doing in her free time she said she enjoys watching scary movies, and she really loves being around her family, and just hanging out with them.  Abby says she loves being inside and outside, I asked her what she likes to do inside and outside, and she says that when she is outside she likes to play basketball, and she says when she is inside she loves to spend time around her family and play games with them. 

 Abby seems like she has big plans for the future. Abby wants to go to Union University, located in Jackson Tennessee.  “I would like to go there because it is a Christian college,” she says, she also says “I feel like being around people that would be a good influence can help me become a better person myself, and help me learn more about God and what he has in store for me”.  She wants to go to Union University to become a Caseworker.  Abby explains a caseworker as someone who gets kids and takes them to safer homes/environments.  Right now her family is fostering 2 young girls, while their parents are going through treatments, she says that this has had an impact on her becoming a caseworker.  She also says “I love kids, and me getting to help them to go to a better home is just amazing to me!” “It makes me feel like I am helping the community, and I know I would be helping kids,” said Abby.

I asked Abby what her biggest accomplishment has been, and she said that she has not accomplished anything big, but getting to help her parents with the kids they foster, and her brothers and sister, is something she strongly enjoys, and it feels like an accomplishment to her.  Abby stated, “Some children might think it’s a bad thing that we have to help with certain things, either around the house or helping others, but to me, I think getting to help others and getting to be an influence on others is an amazing thing.” Abby loves her family and loves being around them. She loves playing games with them, and her family has influenced her future.  Abby is a  very happy person and likes the feeling of helping out her community, and her family.Something Abby wants to accomplish in the future is having a good home and being a good parent.  She says “I want to raise my children right and have a safe space for them to be around and feel safe” 

Abby describes herself as a very sarcastic, funny, and caring person.  “As you can see I love to be a big help” she said.

 Abby says if she is in an argument, or debating about something with someone she would instead of picking just one side, she likes to hear both sides and see what the other person has to say.  She doesn’t think that she or the other person should pick sides, but instead consider both sides and figure out what made them think or feel that way.  She said “If I were the one in the argument I want to hear why they think that way, instead of just putting my opinion first I would let them say what they have to say, and then tell them what I think.  

I asked Abby what her favorite quote was, and what it meant to her, and she said her favorite quote was “It always seems impossible till done” by Nelson Mandela.  She says she likes this quote because “You never know if you are going to like something till you try it”, She also says “Instead of saying I can’t you say I can, because you never know until you try.”  

When being asked what Abby likes to do when she is stressed and needs to relax, she said, she likes doing her makeup, doing skincare, or doing anything with her hair.  She said, “I think it just helps me get my mind off of whatever I am stressing about.” It helps her concentrate on the present time, instead of whatever happened in the past, or what may be coming for her in the future, and It just helps her to focus on what she enjoys.  She also says doing these things make her feel better about herself.

Abby is very happy and always keeps her mind open and positive. She cares about others very strongly and only wants what is best for anyone, she loves talking to people and hopes to meet new people to talk to and learn more about those people. She also loves her family, and they have had a significant impact on what her future will look like. She thinks anything is possible, but you just have to try.  Now you know more than you ever thought you would about Abby Allred.