BY NICOLE WELCH, Junior
BLYTHEWOOD--It is lunch time at BHS, and the halls are full of people laughing and talking with their friends, making Emily Gayle, who is intently studying her AP Physics notes, stand out.
Gayle, having a father who served overseas, is a junior with a story more interesting than most.
She was born in Charlotte, but has spent most of her life living in Blythewood.
“As a baby Emily was vocal,” Emily’s mother Ann Marie Gayle said. “High maintenance until she was one; when she started walking she became Ms. Independent, much like she is today; and when she started talking she became friends with everybody.”
While Emily did not travel around much as a child she has visited many different places all over the world, Bermuda, and Jamaica to name a few.
"But I try to stay organized"
Emily is not only studious, she is also involved in various clubs and organizations at BHS.
She is president of the Future Business Leaders of America, part of the National Honor Society and Leo Club, and is an active member of the BHS Chorus.
To stay on top of all the extracurriculars and AP/Honors courses, Emily makes sure to color-coordinate events and due dates in her agenda, and she manages her time very well.
“It gets kind of difficult to juggle my school work and keep up with the all of the responsibilities that come with the clubs I am a part of, but I try to stay organized,” Emily said.
Gayle's determination to excel when it comes to her schoolwork and various clubs stems from her dream of someday running her own business.
But even with her heavy course load and busy schedule, Gayle still makes time for her friends.
“Emily is a great friend, she is always listening, she’s always there for me, and she always has good fashion advice,” said junior Stephanie Carr, who has been best friends with Emily for 15 years.
Gayle also finds time to do her favorite activities, singing, watching “Scandal”, and spending time with her family.
She is the oldest of three children and has two younger brothers; Jacob (14), and Brady (11).
Even though they are only separated by a couple of years, Emily and her brothers do not have much in common.
“Emily is more self-sufficient than both of her brothers and more focused on her studies,” Ann Marie said.
Having a Dad in the military
Emily’s father, David Gayle, has served in the military for over 28 years, and while she was in elementary school he was deployed to Afghanistan.
This long absence had a major effect on Emily and the rest of her family.
“Communication was definitely a big challenge because of the time difference and the availability of his schedule,” Emily said. “I would also say trying to stay focused on what I was doing, while thinking about him and his safety.”
Being deployed was also difficult for Emily’s father, who had to spend months away from his family.
David believes the time he spent away overseas had a significant effect on Emily.
“Having seen how other families live around the world, I appreciate my family more,” David said. “I think Emily has become a more accomplished person because of my being in the military and having seen the difference in family life around the world.”
Since her father served a tour in Afghanistan, Emily is very passionate when it comes to politics about whether or not American troops should continue to reside in the Middle East.
“I think that the soldiers cause in Afghanistan is good but that it is time for the troops to come home, I think that what the American troops in Afghanistan are doing is a worthy cause, with trying to rebuild the Afghan army, but I think, from personal experience, that the troops should come home for good from Afghanistan. I feel like the weight of nerves on the families' shoulders and the immense love that they have for their soldiers is far greater at risk and far more valuable than what the purpose of the soldiers being over there is,” Emily said.
Emily’s advice to other children with parents currently deployed overseas is to surround themselves with people who love and encourage them, and to stay positive.
Emily is a great example when it comes to being a positive person and an all around good role model.
“My favorite thing about Emily is how she trusts everybody and treats everyone as she wishes to be treated; she doesn’t find any bad in anybody,” Ann Marie said.
After successfully blocking out the sounds of everyone laughing and talking around her Emily continues to study, and is currently doing very well in her Physics class.
