stats: 18, Senior at Tallassee High School
notable: Composer of 8 Musical Pieces, Writer of a Soon-to-Be-Published Novel, Alabama Honor Band Performer
quotable: “Never give up on your dreams, for when you actually apply yourself, almost anything is possible.”
his story: Tyler is a member of the Tallassee High School Band and also serves as the conductor and musical director for the Central Alabama Youth Wind Symphony. He is well-versed in music, but is also a writer and poet, and works as a part-time English tutor. Tyler joined the Alabama National Guard in March 2019. He encourages other high-schoolers to “keep your eye on the prize and don’t let the stress get to you. People achieve greatness through being strong in times of hardship.”
what’s next: When asked about his future plans, Tyler stated, “I plan to go to Troy University to get my Ph.D. in psychology, with minors in criminology, criminal justice, and music. After I complete college and finish my final Guard contract, I plan to apply for the FBI to work as a forensic psychologist. After that, I think I’ll go for politics.”
PG (parental guidance) rating: Tyler shared a piece of advice from his father that really stood out to him: “All we have in this world is time and people. Without people, there’s no point in wasting time, and without time, there’s no point in seeing people. You’ve got to make the best of your time with people, because son, people aren’t here forever. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Love and cherish them, because people are so important.”
parent’s perspective: Larry shared, “Tyler has the internal strength that I admire. He is self-motivated in every aspect of his young adult life. He does not give up or get discouraged! Tyler’s ability to be positive and caring for others is a major attribute to his character. Always willing to help others, Tyler never comes with his hand out for things. He is always willing to work hard to achieve his goals.”
parent-to-parent: Larry and Virginia advise other parents to “never give up on your child’s ability to dream! Nourish those ideas and coach from where the child is every day of their life.”
