It was a hectic day for Taylor Jackson, a high school senior and cheerleader in Williamsburg who left school early with her sister to prepare for Homecoming that evening. On their way, they picked up flowers for their mother and left them in a vase at home. It was her birthday.

Taylor’s mother, Maggie White, is a guidance counselor at Williamsburg Independent Schools, and Taylor plans to head to college with principles instilled by her mother. Maggie is concerned that young people can focus too much on technology and not enough on other aspects of life. White has shared her beliefs with Taylor and her four other children, encouraging them to participate in cheerleading, sports or other extracurricular activities and appreciate the world around them.

“I want to get involved in as much stuff as I can,” Taylor says. "It is very stressful, running a lot of this stuff. But I mean, it all pays off in the end.” She also is a vice president of the school’s student council and senior class and is set to graduate with an associate's degree, accomplished by enrolling in courses from the University of the Cumberlands.

Since Taylor has already earned her high school credits, she does not have to attend classes. Instead, she works at the school, helping teachers and administrators with various tasks. When she is not in school, she enjoys reading and hunting with boyfriend, Connor Saylor, in the Appalachian woods surrounding her hometown.

Taylor's four siblings also have a lot on their plates. Younger sister Abby cheers with Taylor at football games, the seventh-grader plays football, and the youngest boy runs cross-country. The oldest sibling is attending cosmetology school.

The busy teenager appreciates her mother's support. “I look up to my mom so much, and she does so much for me," Taylor says. "But I also wanted to do it for myself, to kind of be me – just to express myself.”

Maggie credits their small town environment with helping her steer her children toward wider interests. "Where we don’t have malls and all the amusement stuff, the kids have to use their imaginations and discover things and get outside and make something to do," she says. “I see it as character building."

Taylor likes many things about Williamsburg, but she doesn't want to attend college here. She looks forward to meeting new people, exploring who she is and possibly studying abroad.
Abby does not like to talk about Taylor leaving for college. While the two have their fights, they are very close. “I know it's definitely gonna be rough for her," Taylor says.

Taylor wasn't elected Homecoming queen that day, but did have plenty of family there.
The lively senior sees her sometimes hectic life as valuable experience. "I feel like this has prepared me so much for college, because I've done so much, and it has so much on my plate that I feel like I can take on anything," she says.