Senior Rylea Tipton is involved in cheer and currently serves as the senior vice president. She also works in her church nursery and spends time as a Dressin’ Up ambassador. She will be a duchess in the Neches River Festival and will be part of a ball and coronation in early April. She was also crowned the 2021 Homecoming Queen.

She said she looks up to her sister because she has overcome many hardships, yet she is still so positive.

“If I need something, she would drop everything just to be there for me,” she said of her sister.

Tipton said she strives to be the person who is kind to everyone.

“I want to be remembered as the kind spirit who brought joy to everyone,” she said. “I always try and be that helping hand wherever I go.”

Her favorite quote is, “That was her magic; she could still see the sunset, even on the darkest days.”

“I love this quote because it is so inspirational,” she said. “I feel that after bad days, all we see is the negative, instead of being grateful for what we have. I always try and see the beauty in everything, and this quote is very encouraging.”

In the future, Tipton wants to attend Texas A&M University to study medicine. She plans on becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner and dreams of working at Texas Children’s Hospital.

In her spare time, she likes to cook and bake. She also likes to babysit and enjoys shopping and getting brunch with friends. Her friends and family are very important to her, as well as her puppy Kash, and being happy.

“Pure happiness is the best,” Tipton said. “It just makes all of life’s greatest gifts so much more enjoyable.”

Her favorite class this year is culinary.

“I love Mrs. Briggs and enjoyed getting to learn more about cooking and baking,” she said. “The class would not be the same without her. She makes learning fun and I always look forward to her class.”

According to Tipton’s chemistry teacher Jane Dunn, she is a teacher’s dream student.

“Not only is she extremely smart, Rylea is always smiling, no matter the circumstances,” Dunn said. “She is a dedicated, gifted young woman, and I have really enjoyed having her in my chemistry class this year.”