Maggie White's letterman jacket hangs alongside photos of her with her family and students. White is a guidance counselor at Williamsburg Independent School and has seen her children's friends grow up. "Most of them have been at the house. They've had sleepovers, birthday parties," Maggie says. She has instilled in her children and other students the importance of not just focusing on technology and widening their interests.
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.
Abby (left) joins her mother at her brother Landon's middle school football game at Middlesboro, an hour-long drive outside of Williamsburg. "[Landon] goes to the cheering competitions, and [his sisters] do very good about cheering on their siblings too," Maggie says.
Taylor (right) reacts to a video while at the front reception desk with Sarah Bush (left) a psychiatric nurse at Williamsburg Independent School, and fellow student Emma Meadors.
Zachary White (left) and his mother, Maggie, watch their English bulldogs play at the family's front yard outside of Williamsburg. Zachary participates in several sports and is preparing to start Boy Scouts.
After missing the previous day's cheerleading practice, high school junior Jason Moses must perform in front of the cheerleading team at Williamsburg Independent School. Taylor (third from left) watches as her fellow cheerleader goes through a routine.
Taylor (left) walks towards her car with Abby after stopping at Walmart to buy their mom flowers for her birthday and hair products they needed to prepare for homecoming that evening.The sisters say they share a close relationship.
Abby (left) rests her head on Taylor's shoulder while stopping for lunch at a Subway deli before getting ready for their homecoming. The sisters seldom discuss Taylor's plan to go away to college, but Abby jokes about taking Taylor's room when she does leave.
Taylor (center) applies makeup while getting ready for homecoming with her sister Abby (left) and elementary school teacher Sherry Reed. Sherry is Maggie's longtime friend and frequently does the sisters' hair and makeup for special occasions.
Maggie (center) faces Abby (right) as she and Taylor prepare to line up and take the field for homecoming ceremonies during the football game's halftime break. Taylor and Abby were chosen for the football homecoming court, and Taylor was the runner-up for homecoming queen.
Taylor chats by video to a friend on her laptop while Maggie lifts Zachary as he holds their English bulldog, Tia. After cheerleading practice that day, Taylor worked on completing a college application for the University of Tennessee and assignments for courses she takes at the University of the Cumberlands.