BHS salutatorian’s next move is to Wallace

Editor’s Note: Franklin’s Future is a regular feature spotlighting a high school senior in Franklin County and what they have planned for life after graduation.

Darby Hargett is an 18-year-old senior at Belgreen High School who has been involved in everything from athletics to beauty pageants to scholar’s bowl.
She is a self-proclaimed over-achiever who said she enjoys being involved, keeping her grades up and planning for her future.
“I think it’s a good idea to get involved because it helps you stay active and meet other people,” she said.
“Even though Belgreen is a small school and all my classmates and I have grown up together since kindergarten, you might not always hang out with the same people, so being involved in sports and clubs helps you branch out.”
During her high school career, Hargett has served as president of Beta Club, president of Beautification Club, a student council delegate, a Homecoming Court representative and an alternate in Miss BHS.
She’s been a member of the Diamond Dolls, senior Scholar’s Bowl, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Future Business Leaders of America and annual staff.
She’s also played sports as captain of the volleyball team and a member of the basketball and softball teams.
In addition to that, she was selected as Belgreen’s representative to the Alabama Girls State when she represented her school among girls from all other high schools in the state.
“Being part of Girls State was a good experience because a met a lot of new people and I learned a lot about the political process that I really didn’t know much about until then,” she said.
“It also prepared me for what’s to come after high school because I’m sort of a shy person and I’ve gone to the same school all my life so I don’t really have to meet many ‘new’ people, but I’ll have to do that a lot once I get to college so it taught me to be a little more outgoing.”
And if all those accolades aren’t enough, Hargett was recently named the salutatorian for the class of 2013.
“I try very hard to make straight As and I can’t stand it if I make a B,” she said. “I’m a goal-oriented person and I just like to do my best whether it’s grades or anything else.”
Hargett said she would be sad to leave her friends and favorite teachers behind after she graduates this spring.
“I’ll miss seeing everyone everyday because we’re all going to different colleges,” she said.
“I’ll also miss the fun times we had making memories like our haunted house senior play and winning our first volleyball game.”
But Hargett said she was also looking forward to a change of scenery.
“It will be good to be on my own a little more and to meet new people once I get to college.”
Hargett’s future goals include attending Wallace State Community College where she plans to major in diagnostic imaging.
“I chose Wallace because it had the program I want to study and I like the campus,” she said. “It’s also closer to home.”
Hargett settled on diagnostic imaging for her career after her experiences with a few different sports injuries.
“I’ve had to have x-rays several times and this last time that I was having to get an x-ray of my shoulder because of volleyball, I just looked at the technician and thought it was something I would like doing.”
In preparation for that career, Hargett has been volunteering at several local medical practices to make sure she’s mad the best choice for her future.
“I volunteer at the hospital in the radiology department and I’ve been observing the sonography at Dr. Santiago’s office,” she said.
“It was good that I did that because it just confirmed that it really is something I will like doing. I wouldn’t have wanted to get all the way through college and figure out it wasn’t the career for me and have to start all over.”
When she graduates with her degree, Hargett said she would like to work in a hospital.
“I’ll go wherever there’s a job for me,” she said. “Ideally I’d like to be in Florence or maybe in Madison or Huntsville.”
Hargett said she enjoyed growing up in Franklin County but she believes she would enjoy living in a bigger city in the future.
“I like how everyone here knows everyone and it’s just a friendly place, and I loved growing up near the lakes and getting to go there in the summer, but I think I’ll have more job opportunities somewhere bigger,” she said. “Plus, it’ll just be something new to experience. I like the city.”
In her spare time, Hargett said she likes to hang out with her family and friends, play sports and read.
She is the daughter of Jeff and Annette Hargett and she has one older brother, Spencer.