Junior Emma Hinshaw, a point guard for Huntington, knows the right time to take her shot.
As a sophomore, Emma decided that attending Pickaway-Ross would put her in a good position after high school to enter the work force.
But after her first semester, Emma wasn’t afraid to change the play to move from studying Automotive Maintenance to Visual Communication & Design (VCAD).
“I was struggling,” in Automotive, Emma said, but thought that VCAD would help her hone her photography, a hobby she has enjoyed.
“I take pictures on my phone and I always watched my mom.”
Emma’s mom, Danielle, had her own photography business when Emma was little.
“She would hang out with me when I was in my studio or out and about on photo shoots,” said Danielle, who closed her business when her kids got involved in sports and now is the secretary at Huntington Elementary School.
Danielle said she proud of Emma’s accomplishments and her drive.
“I’m happy she has the confidence to try new things and change her mind if it’s not working out.”
Switching programs mid-year is not easy but Emma is working hard, instructor Holly Smith said.
“I have to catch up on everything that I missed, but Mrs. Smith is helping me,” Emma said.
Brandi McConahay, Emma’s World History teacher last semester, said Emma’s dedication as a student is strong.
“She always gives her best to everything she does,” Brandi said. “She works well on a team and sets a positive example for her classmates.”
That teamwork is also evident on the court. A basketball player since she was in elementary school, Kyle Uhrig has been coaching her for two years.
“She’s the type of kid you would want to build any program around. She's a very hard worker, leads by example and works extremely hard at everything she does,” he said.
“She's very successful and it's because of the hard work and determination she has.”