Harold sees independence as the foundation for creativity and is determined to carve out a space he can truly call his own.  With a passion for game development and video creation, Harold plans to attend ECU to major in Computer Science, focusing on coding, application development, and cybersecurity. In addition, Harold believes that “a stranger today could be a friend tomorrow.” Understanding that growth often comes through exposure to perspectives beyond one’s own, he looks forward to the people he has yet to meet. Surrounded by new faces and diverse experiences, he sees the future as an opportunity to develop his craft and gain a broader understanding of the world around him. 

Jahleel describes himself as charismatic, nice, and upbeat. He likes to use his friendly demeanor to encourage people to engage in conversation with him and feel comfortable talking about anything they want. He decided to start changing the way he thought about his education during his sophomore year and fully changed his mindset during his junior year. He received motivation from his pastor, who said to him, “If you have enough passion, you can do anything.” This made him want to focus on a purpose and his goals for his life and put more effort into the things. After graduating, he plans to complete two years at Wayne Community College for aviation system technology, and then transfer to ECU for mechanical engineering for his bachelor's degree. After getting his degrees, he hopes to work in the aerospace industry for a company like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, or Northrup Grumman.

Jacquale is friendly and upbeat, so his sense of humor is what most people notice first. There is more behind his great smile, though, as the early loss of his mother really shaped Jacquale’s perspective.  He has chosen to find light in the dark, preferring to uplift others rather than wear his struggles on his sleeve. The later loss of his grandmother further solidified his character and his resilience. Under the guidance of his paternal grandmother and his aunt, he embraced faith and the qualities of a true gentleman. Today, Jacquale views life’s hardships like "boss battles" in a video game where challenges are meant to be defeated. Driven by the belief that the best way to live is to "turn your dreams into reality,” he is carrying that mindset with him to East Carolina University as he continues to turn his past struggles into the fuel for his future success. 

Mina’s perspective on life is a balance between living for the “now “ and wondering about the “next.” At times, she embraces a “you only live once” mindset, taking risks and taking in experiences without remorse. At other times, she is fascinated by the idea that life doesn’t just end when you die. “I like the thrill of thinking about what happens next,” she states. The mix of spiritual curiosity and “in-the-moment freedom” makes her life feel more purposeful. Her outlook on things is largely influenced by her boyfriend, who spent two years encouraging her to attend church with him. She pushed back. However, she recently changed her mind and decided to go with him. The experience stayed with her more than she ever would’ve thought. It opened the door to “big thinker questions.” Instead of dismissing the unknown, she now embraces uncertainty with an open mind. Mina plans to take a gap year between graduating and attending college, hoping to work on her mental and physical health. She is also interested in joining the United States Navy and having them pay for her education. 

When Abigail Fields first came to WSTA as a freshman in fall 2022, she was very nervous but excited. Throughout her time here, she participated in many programs she loved, like the 2024 prom committee and the Empty Stocking Fund in December of 2025. WSTA is special to her because of the opportunities it gave her, especially the art class, which gave her time to focus on her art and creativity. Abigail has been accepted into UNCW, where she plans to study to become an accountant. “I’m very nervous but ambitious for the future.  I think for anyone new to coming here, remember to work hard and always stay focused.” 

Worth plans to attend a community college before transferring to UNC Wilmington, where he intends to study law and eventually pursue a career as a lawyer, a goal he has long been passionate about. He strongly believes that being considerate and respectful toward others is an essential quality that more people should develop and practice in their daily lives. A recent trip to Utah sparked his curiosity about the world, inspiring him to explore new places and learn more about different environments and cultures.  Worth has a deep love for skiing, a hobby that brings him both excitement and a sense of accomplishment. Some of his most cherished memories come from camping trips with his closest friends, playing sports, and spending time with his cat, Pip. These moments have helped shape who he is and what he values most.  Influenced by his grandfather's guidance, meaningful experiences in school, his strong belief in God, and lasting friendships that have stood the test of time, Worth has built a solid foundation for his future. Altogether, these influences and experiences set the stage for his continued growth, determination, and the accomplishments he hopes to achieve in the years ahead.

Ask John what he likes best about himself, and he'll tell you that he is really funny. His inspiration? Noel Miller, a comedian with whom he feels like he connects with because of how Noel sees society. While on the topic of funny, John recalls a pretty funny moment from freshman year where he and his friends carried a whole couch outside, and the lady at the front desk didn’t care, so they just sat outside. Another memorable moment he remembers is lying down on the sidewalk waiting for his girlfriend after finishing the ACT. John volunteers at his church and the Empty Stocking Fund, and due to his volunteering, he believes not enough people volunteer, as it has opened his eyes to how grateful he should be for all that he has. When John finishes the Empty Stocking Fund, he wants to take it a step further and do better things related to helping others. John plans to go to NC State for textile design after graduation because he has a strong affinity for art, and he would be able to help others while pursuing a major with a good job that also helps others in need. After John graduates from college, he wants to get rich, own a 2017 Dodge Viper ACR, be independent, and explore the world aimlessly in the sense of  “Wherever the wind takes me because I got aura like that."

Since Wayne School of Technical Arts opened in the fall of 2022, senior Walker Lancaster has experienced moments that have helped shape both his perspective and his goals. One memory he won't forget is WSTA's first field trip to the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base flight line, which was an experience he believes set a strong precedent for the school and what students could expect moving forward. Walker is heavily influenced by WSTA math teacher Mrs. Breeze. He admires her strong work ethic and positive outlook, qualities that he hopes to carry with him into his own future. Looking ahead, he's excited about the opportunity to become a role model for others. "I just want to be someone other people can look up to," Walker stated. After graduation, Walker plans to attend Wayne Community College for two years, studying business, before transferring to the University of Mount Olive to continue his studies in business, along with agriculture.

As a WSTA senior, Karron Larue is passionate about many things. He is passionate about family, football, and dreams of becoming a sports analyst. His favorite memories at WSTA are becoming student of the month in his sophomore year, as well as going on the annual bowling trip with his friends. He’s close with his sister, Allison, his girlfriend, and his best friend, Jay. All of these people guide him through life and are the reason he’s the person he is today. He’s determined to be successful and make his parents proud as a first-generation college student. He will be attending UNC-Charlotte to study sports analytics. His advice to WSTA youth: “No one can dictate your future except yourself.” 

Joshua is someone shaped by friendship, persistence, and moments that seem simple but are meaningful. One of his favorite memories is a day spent with his friends Jackson, Alex, and Parker, starting with a gift exchange at Zaxby’s and turning into a full day of hanging out at the mall, messing around at Dick’s Sporting Goods, looking at animals in PetSmart, browsing books at Books-A-Million, and ending at Walmart, having fun the whole time. Another important experience came from his Python II final project, where he worked with a group to create a parkour-style game. Despite setbacks like team issues and the game breaking when new features were added, they pushed through, fixed it, and successfully presented it, making the hard work feel worth it. Soccer has also been a big part of his life since he was four, something his mom encouraged him to try that grew into a passion, especially because of the time spent with friends and the memories made during games and travel. Looking ahead, Joshua plans to attend Wayne Community College before transferring to NC State University for civil engineering, though he is open to going wherever a sports scholarship might take him, and he hopes to make enough money to support his interests like collecting LEGO and manga. A quote he heard in a video and lives by is, “Nickels look like quarters to someone who hasn’t seen a dollar,” which pushes him to aim higher and keep improving, not just for himself but to motivate others as well.

Chloe is a student who is guided by the Christian beliefs that have inspired her and allowed her to help herself and others in times of need. For instance, one of her favorite verses is Psalms 23:4, which says, “ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.” She says this quote and Jesus saved her and kept her going when she would get really anxious and go through a tough time. Similarly, a friend of hers came to her in the bathroom and asked Chloe to quickly pray for her, to which she did without hesitation. It made Chloe feel good that she could support a friend in that way. Chloe was supported in her freshman year by her mom when Chloe wanted to take the accelerated program, but encountered a problem when a teacher was against it, because Chloe had an IEP, which made some teachers underestimate her, but she really just learns differently from others. With persistence and her mom's support, she was able to take the accelerated program and is now graduating a year early. Outside of school and her hard work, she goes to church three days a week with a youth group, where she enjoys spending time with them. The most recent thing they did was bring a few items to exchange with each other, and everybody took home a new item from someone else and went to enjoy food afterwards. After graduation, she plans to go to Wayne Community College to finish out her two years, but has no idea what is next to come. She leaves her trust in God to guide her in the right direction as she says, “Don’t worry about what the future is holding, just focus on God and how he is guiding you.”

Emma Smith is a studious and socially flexible student who plans to thrive throughout the rest of her career. Smith stated that her time at WSTA set her sail and pushed her to become a motivated student. Throughout the challenging courses, she has come out of her comfort zone both academically and physically. "Try your hardest," she stated. This has made her want to excel more in advanced classes. As a Senior Beta Club member, she has showcased her character, leadership, and volunteer skills. She has also been an active member of the Student Government Association (SGA), further shaping her as a leader. Anytime she had trouble, she knew she could go to her peers and teachers, “especially Mrs. Ruhl.” These were the moments that she carried with her when she felt most supported. Her plan after graduation is to attend East Carolina University (ECU), where she is considering going into the medical field, possibly nursing. What excites Emma most about the future are the many possibilities of what she can achieve in life. 

One of her favorite things about volunteering at a hospice is that she talks to someone who is really positive and finds the experience and conversations eye-opening. A challenge that has shaped her to be who she is today is being in a wheelchair, because it has allowed her to meet interesting and smart people. Due to her circumstances, she has also gotten to learn about meds, which has influenced her field of interest in being a rehab doctor. Being a part of SGA and having been the president has also allowed her to hone her public speaking skills. A favorite memory of hers is when some friends of hers dragged a couch outside, and they just sat outside and enjoyed a nice sunny day, which she says reminded her of the “good old days.” Megan also really enjoys singing even outside of school and has been doing so since her childhood, which has helped her conquer her stage fright, but unfortunately, she has stopped getting professional singing lessons because her teacher moved away last year. After graduating this year, she wants to go to Wayne Community College to finish out her 2-year degree, then transfer to NC State, where she will study mechanical engineering. She chose these schools because she is a homebody and doesn’t really want to be far from her parents in case she needs their help or support. After college, Megan is really excited to become a doctor to help people in accidents that result in paralysis like hers, adjust to the new way of living, and try to find clubs of others who have a disability.

Jonathan Torres, or more popularly known as “JT,” loves his openness because he used to be an introvert, and his change of personality allowed him to meet new and more exciting people. His biggest inspiration and influence is his older brother, because he experienced life first; having immigrated to the U.S., he was the first to go to college. When JT would struggle, his brother would help him with guidance and tips that he wished he had when he first came to a U.S. school. One of his favorite moments was when he won a free-throw competition by himself, which he says "I was basically a one-man army," during a school-hosted March Madness event; it made him feel really proud and seen by everyone around him. Similarly, he felt seen and supported in his freshman year when a teacher helped him through his sinking grades and poor time management with life advice and other tips to help JT finish the year with straight As. JT enjoys playing soccer, swimming, being in a games club, and automotive repairs. He has the most experience with automotive due to his uncle and cousins, and he once fixed a burnt clutch on his motorcycle all by himself with just YouTube tutorials. After graduation, JT is heading to Texas A&M to pursue petroleum engineering because of his brother being a mechanical engineer, and he sees being in these professions as a positive force in the world, while making good money. The future excites him because it’s unpredictable, and you never know what's next and what it holds. A quote and belief he lives by and will carry through his whole life is “Todo tiene precio,” which translates to everything has its price. It reminds him to be grateful for everything he has, nothing is free, and make the most of what you have while you have the time.

Chris Young has a talent that not everyone gets to see: his music. "One thing I'm proud of but don't talk about often is making music," he states. He started in late 2024 with a bucket-list project: his first album. What started as a simple experiment turned into a passion. Chris fell in love with rapping, and since then, he's written and recorded multiple songs under the name "Dante Marzzz," and has developed many projects, some with full concepts behind them. "I'm so enamored with making music... it's very special to me." Despite Chris's love for music, he has set out a different path for his career. After graduation, he plans to attend Wayne Community College for two years, then transfer to a four-year college, earning a master's degree in psychology to become a therapist. "Because of how costly [rapping] is, and because [my dad] wanted me to go into something more serious, I chose therapy," Chris says. He is extremely excited about the freedom he'll be able to experience in the future. "I already know about having multiple responsibilities, but I'm prepared for it." He is heavily impacted by his mother and father. "[My mom] has taught me how to do multiple things like saying 'I apologize' instead of sorry, and how to put myself before others. My dad, has given me countless life lessons that have helped me become more mature." Chris wants people to remember who he is as a person and what he means to them in their lives. "I hope that I'll still talk with some people [from WSTA] and never lose the connection we had before graduation. But, even to those that I might not talk to in the future, I still want them to remember how I impacted their lives, how I was to them, and our memories together."