Helpful pupil works hard for good grades
Ever since she was a toddler, Taylor Stubblefield has been learning the lessons of hard work and determination. She's also learned an important life lesson about helping others.
"She is always willing to help others and displays a very mature, positive attitude when working with fellow students," said Cathy Moseley, a third-grade language arts teacher at Martinez Elementary School.
Taylor Stubblefield is a fifth-grader at Martinez Elementary. At her mother's urging, she recently began cheerleading. Although it requires lots of hard work, Taylor said she is enjoying it. The honor-roll pupil is the president of her class and has served on the student council.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Taylor, a fifth grader at Martinez Elementary, said helping others is part of her nature.
"There have been times where I have had trouble with math problems and others have helped me," said the 11-year-old daughter of Glenn and Rita Stubblefield, of Martinez. "I want to give back to them."
It is that spirit that makes Taylor such a loved person to her classmates, her teachers and her family.
"This year in the fifth grade, we do group projects and we use laptops a lot," said Taylor, who has served as a class representative on the student council for two years and is currently the president of her class. "A lot of them aren't familiar with the technology. I have a computer at home, so I help them. But the teacher wants us to learn it on our own, so I have to remember that sometimes."
Taylor knows firsthand what support from others can do. She said she "just knew" she wouldn't be named student council president this year, but added that the support she got from others helped her continue pushing for the position.
"I really have to give it all to my friends and family," she said. "I really didn't think I was going to win, but they kept encouraging me."
The stick-to-it attitude that Taylor exhibits is remarkable. A gymnast since she was 3, Taylor recently traded her leotard for pompoms as she tried out for a Southern Impact squad.
"I've been doing gymnastics since I was 3 and my mom wanted me to try out for cheerleading," the all-A honor pupil said. "At first I didn't like it because it was a lot of hard work, but now I'm enjoying it."
Taylor knows all about hard work. She says she works diligently to maintain good grades.
"We got our report cards today and I got straight A's," she said a week ago. "I'm very proud of myself. I have gotten a couple of B's, but I work very hard to bring them up to A's. As you get older, you have to work harder to make good grades."
"Taylor is always one you can count on to do an excellent job," Moseley said. "She is an excellent student who always gives 100 percent."